Bahraini student abducted in Malaysia found safe

Manama: A Bahraini student reportedly abducted in Malaysia 17 days ago is now free, a Bahrain police statement has said.

“Bahraini student Ali Ahmad Al Nashaba was freed in coordination with Malaysian security authorities,” the interior ministry statement said.

“The Bahraini police team in charge of following up on efforts to release the student had contacted the Malaysian police about the search and investigation procedures, which resulted in locating the site where he had been detained and releasing the student on Friday.”

Ali was taken to hospital for checkup, while procedures for his return to Bahrain are underway, it added. “The Interior Ministry expressed thanks and appreciation to the Malaysian government and foreign ministry for their efforts that led to the student’s release,” the statement said.

According to reports, the 20-year-old electrical engineering student was snatched by three men on January 28 from Linton University in Kuala Lumpur. His family was initially given 24 hours to pay 20,000 Malaysian ringgit (BD2,260, Dh22,016) to his abductors who threatened to chop his fingers off if they failed to pay up. The ransom demand was later increased to BD3,000. Ali is expected to return home to Bahrain soon alongside the investigation team dispatched to Kuala Lumpur.