KARACHI, Dec 8: An anti-terrorism court put off on Monday the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case after recording the statement of one of the two accused.

Khalid Abbas and Mohammed Ali have been charged with the kidnapping of a 19-year-old boy on Sept 26 for ransom in the limits of the Sir Syed Town police station.

Judge Arshad Noor Khan of ATC-3 recorded the statement of Khalid Abbas, who denied charges against him.

Accused Mohammed Ali would record his statement on oath on Tuesday and he would also produce three defence witnesses.

According to prosecution, the accused kidnapped Adnan and demanded Rs1 million for his release. The kidnappers used their victim’s cellular phone for negotiation with his family.

The family told the kidnappers that they did not have that much amount of money and had only Rs30,000 at their house. The kidnappers asked them to bring Rs30,000 at a desolate place near Nagin Chowrangi.

The family reported the matter to the police and took the money to the kidnappers accordingly. As the accused were about to receive the money, the plain-clothes policemen tried to arrest them. However, only one of them, Khalid Abbas, could be arrested and accused Mohammed Ali fled the scene.

Later, the police recovered the hostage on a lead given by the arrested accused. They also arrested accused Mohammed Ali.