Taiwanese authorities have rescued a Hong Kong businessman who was kidnapped and held captive in the country for over a month, arresting 12 suspects.
Pearl Oriental Oil Limited chairman Wong Yuk-kwan, also known as Wong Kwan, went missing in New Taipei City on September 20, sparking speculation that he had absconded to avoid fraud charges in Hong Kong.
The 67-year-old was found on Tuesday night in a deserted karaoke bar in western Taiwan’s Yunlin county, Apple Daily reported.
Exclusive pictures obtained by the newspaper showed a frightened Wong sitting on the floor while two of his subdued captors lay face-down next to him. Wong appeared to have sustained injuries on his legs and face.
According to Apple Daily, Wong’s family received emails from the kidnappers demanding a ransom of HK$70 million earlier this month. The kidnappers threatened to break Wong’s legs and gouge out his eyes if his family failed to pay, the newspaper said.
After more than a month of investigation, police arrested 12 suspects in Taipei, Taoyuan and Yunlin on Tuesday.
Wong is facing charges in a fraud and money laundering case in Hong Kong, where he has been accused of supplying false information to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on a Pearl Oriental oil deal in the US.
Wong went to Taiwan “to rest” after he was granted HK$5 million bail. His bail was forfeited after he failed to appear in a High Court hearing earlier this month, Apple Daily said.
