LAHORE: The Racecourse police registered a case against two suspects for kidnapping two foreigners for ransom of Rs300 million.

The suspects nominated in the FIR including Rana Irfan Mehmood obtained Rs10.4 million from Stephen Ehrhardt, a citizen of Switzerland, and Magerwin Maria Spari of Germany and released them on the condition that they would manage the remaining amount.

According to the FIR, both the foreigners had arrived Pakistan on Feb 10 and stayed in Pearl Continental Hotel. The FIR stated that they later drove them to an undisclosed place where they snatched from them valuables including mobile phones and got the money. The suspects later demanded Rs300 million more for safe release and made a film of the both foreigners. They threatened them that they (foreigners) were involved in drug smuggling and asked them to pay Rs300 million otherwise they would upload the video clips and portray them as global drug smugglers.

The FIR further stated that the kidnappers released them after the foreigners promised them to arrange the demanded money.

The police said an investigation has been launched to trace and arrest the culprits involved in the kidnap for ransom case.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2021