‘Catnapper’ demands RM6,000 ransom for cat’s release
MOHAMMAD KHAIRIL ASHRAF MOHD KHALID
SHAH ALAM - An unfortunate situation befalls a man as he not only lost his beloved cat that was kidnapped, but also threatened to pay a ransom in return for the cat’s safety.
The Malaysian Animal Association had on Facebook posted about the missing cat that was reported to have disappeared at 11am on Sept 1 around Taman Kwan Ming in Kuching, Sarawak.
The complainant said he received a text on WhatsApp with a picture and video of the cat on Sept 3 from an individual believed to be the kidnapper of the cat.
He said the kidnapper also demanded a ransom amounting to RM6,000 to be paid before 6pm and stated that a location to get the cat will be given at night after the payment was made.
"The kidnapper had threatened to throw the cat into a nearby river if the owner failed to pay the ransom.
"The kidnapper has also warned the owner to bring the requested money alone and not to do anything that could anger the kidnapper," the association said on Monday.
Following the incident, the association said the cat owner lodged a police report at the Sekama police station.
"The owner has also gone to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in Icom Square, Kuching, Sarawak to trace the kidnapper's phone number which the investigating officer said was hard to trace,” it said.
Meanwhile, the association's president Arie Dwi Andika said this was the first kidnapping case which involved a cat and a ransom amounting to thousands of ringgit in the country.
"Animal Malaysia expressed concern if kidnapping incidents involving animals will become rampant if no strict action was taken by the authorities.
"We hope that the Sarawak police will look into this matter and take serious and immediate action to arrest the cat kidnapper who threatened to throw the cat into a dangerous river in Kuching, Sarawak.
"The crime of kidnapping a cat also needs to be given serious attention to and should be considered a serious crime considering that it involves lives, money, the owner's emotions and the long-term security of all parties," he stressed.
