Fatima Al-Damees and Khalid Abdullah
DAMMAM — Egyptian authorities claimed on Friday that they had arrested members of a gang that kidnapped a Saudi businessman who was held hostage by the group for 10 days, the businessman's family said.
Hasan Al-Sanad, who owns a company in Egypt, was released upon payment of a SR5 million ransom.
Al-Sanad's son, Ali, spoke to Okaz/Saudi Gazette about his father’s ordeal.
“My father went to Egypt to attend a business meeting. On his way from the hotel to the meeting location, he was ambushed by a gang and kidnapped. His staff reported to the Egyptian authorities that hew was missing after he failed to attend an important meeting. We got the news that my father was kidnapped from his employees,” said Ali Al-Sanad.
Released after 10 days in captivity, Ali said the Egyptian authorities informed the family on Friday that the kidnappers had been arrested but provided no further information.
“The Egyptian authorities contacted us on Friday to inform us that they have arrested the kidnappers. However, they did not give us any information on the identity of the kidnappers, their number or when exactly were they arrested. We are waiting for the Egyptian Ministry of Interior to release a statement,” said Ali.
He also said his family is grateful for the incessant efforts of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior to arrest his father's kidnappers.
“My father told us that a total of six people ambushed his car. They shot at the car and then approached it pointing guns at him and the driver. Then they pulled my father and the driver out of the car and tied them up,” said Ali.
He added his father was kept in a cage with the driver and the kidnappers demanded a ransom of SR5 million.
“My father said their eyes were always sealed and the gang members would only come in the middle of the night to drop in food. My father would negotiate with the leader of the gang through a phone. After the ransom was paid my father and the driver were dropped off somewhere in the desert with a cell phone,” said Ali.
He said his father was diabetic and he was only given biscuits and water.
“My father walked in the desert for an hour until he found a main road and called the police for help. The police arrived at the location very late and my father had already called his friend who took him to a hospital to get his medication,” said Ali.
A high ranking source in the Egyptian government said the Egyptian Ministry of Interior was expected to release a statement with the details of the kidnapping incident on Saturday.
