Kidnapped boy rescued

Stacy Shi

A kidnapped three-year-old boy was found in the early hours yesterday in a private estate adjacent to a Tseung Kwan O mall where he was snatched on Wednesday afternoon. Two women in the flat were arrested.

Police believe the two - both 38 years old, one an HKID holder and the other a mainlander with a two-way permit - do not know the boy's family and committed the crime due to financial problems.

The boy is in stable condition at the Tseung Kwan O Hospital, accompanied by his family.

The boy was playing in a game center in the mall with his elder sister but was found to be missing when their mother came back for them.

A screen capture of surveillance footage circulated online on Wednesday night and showed the boy being taken away by a masked individual wearing a cap.

Another screen capture of a Telegram chat box showed the demand of the kidnappers, who wanted US$660,000 (HK$5.15 million) worth of Tether coins and stated: "I will not be online again until the USDT is transferred to the account."

The request was sent with a close-up photo of a child sleeping.

Police organized crime and triad bureau chief superintendent Kwan King-pan said they received a report from a woman at 4.30pm on Wednesday saying her son had been abducted by an unknown person who sent a message threatening dire consequences if the incident was reported.

Investigative work allowed police to identify the suspects. They said they believe the crime was premeditated as the two brought along a stroller used to transport the boy, a suitcase and clothes to disguise themselves.

"One of the women forcibly took the boy, put him in a stroller and pushed him to a nearby park, where the other suspect took the boy and put him in a huge suitcase and then brought him to a nearby unit," Kwan said.

Sources said it was a residential unit at The Wings in Tseung Kwan O.

The flat is rented by the Hongkonger, Kwan added, and police are investigating whether it is being used for other purposes.

Police seized clothes and a suitcase in the flat, but said they have yet to find any chemicals in the unit.

Kwan said whether the boy was poisoned and rendered unconscious is still being investigated.

No other persons or vehicles were involved, police said.

As to why the suspects asked for cryptocurrency as ransom, he said it could be because they thought virtual currencies are difficult to trace.

Residents in the area said they feared for the safety of their children.

A mother of two, Yuen, said she bought a stroller to help make it easier to watch over her kids.

"I have two kids and it's hard for me to keep an eye on both of them all the time. I bought a stroller immediately so that the two can sit in it and won't be kidnapped," she said.

Other parents said they would hold their children's hands tightly when going to public places.

A Tseung Kwan O resident said it is hard to believe that a kidnapping occurred in the district.

"There are surveillance cameras everywhere now and it's shocking that such a case could happen, especially since it took place in a mall in public," she said.

Another mother, Yeung, said the Tseung Kwan O district is normally a safe area and praised police for acting quickly as they rescued the boy and arrested the two suspects within 14 hours.

Amelia Lee Nam-yuk, head of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Baptist University, said parents "cannot afford" to take their eyes off their young children in public places, even for a heartbeat.

Parents should have a strong sense of safety and must pay attention to their children's movements in public places, she added.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com