A 94-year-old woman has discovered that nagging to be released can be an effective tactic with kidnappers.
Her abductor, surnamed Tseng (曾), was a shareholder in a small business with a criminal record for stealing and obstructing an officer on duty, according to police.
Tseng recently went on the run after becoming indebted to a loan shark.
In desperate need for money, the 55-year-old stole a minivan and drove on Friday to the plush neighborhood of New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口) to capture a wealthy victim, police said.
Chou (周) had been taking a stroll before she was forced into Tseng’s car and tied up with iron wire.
Tseng contacted Chou’s family and demanded a NT$7 million (US$230,000) ransom, before driving Chou to his hideout in Taoyuan County, the police said.
During the ride, Chou began to lecture Tseng.
“If you want to do business, use your mouth and not your fist. If you have troubles, you can always talk things over with someone. You should live hard and work harder,” Chou was quoted by police as saying to Tseng.
The police said Tseng later dropped Chou off at a gas station on Taoyuan City’s Da Sing W Road after he was unable to tolerate her moralizing.
“Tseng was also worried something bad might happen to Chou, given her age,” the police said.
Tseng was apprehended on Monday and has been referred to the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office on charges of abduction, theft and violation of the Act on Controlling Guns, Ammunition and Knives (槍砲彈藥刀械管制條例).
A similar incident took place recently in the US.
According to a report by the New York Daily News, a 10-year-old boy kidnapped from his home in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 31 saved himself by tormenting his kidnapper with the gospel song Every Praise by US Grammy award-winning singer Hezekiah Walker.
The boy, named Willie Myrick, was released three hours into his abduction after his kidnapper apparently had had enough of his singing, the report said, adding that Atlanta police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who is still on the loose.
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