Cross-border ‘kidnapping’: Curious case of Chinese crime

Chinese national allegedly uses Taliban’s name to kidnap fellow national.

KARACHI:

Chinese nationals, who are best known for reproducing technology from across the world, failed to imitate a kidnapping act, even though they had used a foolproof strategy - use the name of a banned outfit.

This unique case of a Chinese man attempting to kidnap a fellow national is pending before the anti-terrorism court in Karachi. On Friday, the case took an interesting turn when the district public prosecutor moved an application before the ATC-III requesting it to form a commission or direct the embassy of Pakistan in China to record the statement of a man in a case of kidnapping. All three men involved - the kidnapper, the abductee and the complainant - are Chinese nationals.



According to the police, the suspect, Zhan Hai Feng, was accused of kidnapping the owner of the Zhejiang Ganghang Solar Technology, Yugang Bai. He demanded a ransom of Rs10 million for his safe release. Darakhshan police registered a case number 15/2013, under section 365-A of the Pakistan Penal Code read with section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 against unknown persons.

The prosecution claimed that Feng had faked his and Bai's kidnapping and pretended that he was a militant belonging to the 'Taliban' when he demanded ransom from Bai's wife. When he failed to receive the required amount for a few days, Feng returned without the victim. He told Bai's wife that the Taliban released him while her husband was still in their detention.

Giving fake photographs to show that Bai was in the Taliban's detention, Feng insisted the two men were kidnapped by the 'Taliban' and they should arrange for the ransom, said the prosecution. Bai's wife became suspicious and told the police about Feng's story. Subsequently, the police traced the suspect and recovered Bai. Feng, now in police custody, is facing the trial on kidnapping charges.

The hearings continued in the anti-terrorism court until the complainant's statement was needed, for which the deputy district public prosecutor of ATC-III, Abdul Maroof, submitted an application. "It is prayed that the court may kindly be pleased to issue commission for recording evidence of the complainant or allow the Embassy of Pakistan in China to record the statement of complainant and forward the same to the court," stated Maroof, when he filed the application under section 503 (2B) of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898.

He requested the court direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan to make arrangements that allow a Pakistani official to coordinate with the foreign affairs ministry of China to record the statement of the complainant, MA Chaun, returned to China. Maroof told the court that his evidence was essential for a just decision of the matter and to establish the writ of the state.

Maroof told The Express Tribune said that the court had earlier sent a letter to the Chinese consulate asking the complainant come to court but they were informed that the issue is out of their jurisdiction.

The court issued notice to the defence counsel to submit his arguments on the application and adjourned the case till January 13.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2014.