Incident

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Incident

Citizen of China taken hostage in Azerbaijan

08 January 2010 13:18 (UTC +04:00)

Interior Ministryâ€™s press service told APA that citizen of the Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Zhang Yaogin, who is renting a house in Lokbatan settlement, appealed to the ministryâ€™s Department to Combat Organized Crimes on January 6, 2010, saying that his husband Zhang Venlin had been kidnapped with his Opel-Astra by unknown men in the 8th km settlement in Baku. They demanded $300,000 for his release.

Interior Ministry and National Security Ministry immediately set up a group. The urgent measures found out that Zhang Venlin and his wife visited Li Vi in the 8th km settlement of Nizami district on January 5. At about 20.00 he went out and did not come back. The next day at 9.30, unknown men called her mobile phone and demanded $300,000 for his release. They said they will kill Zhang Venlin if the police are informed or the money is not paid.

On January 7, the unknown men phoned again and said Zhang Venlinâ€™s forefinger had been cut off and thrown into their yard. The suffererâ€™s forefinger was found in the yard.

The same day citizens of China Li Jien Vei, Zengo Vang Liyong, Vang Konyong and Zing Lakhu were detained. Masks, knives, axe, iron rods, sticky tape, mobile phones were found in their house. Zhang Venlin, whose eyes were bound with the sticky tape and forefinger was cut off, was released.

Interior Ministryâ€™s Department to Combat Organized Crimes has launched criminal case on the fact on article 144.1 (kidnapping) of the Criminal Code, investigation is underway.