KUALA LUMPUR: Four men linked to the kidnapping of a Chinese national and a local woman were killed in a shootout with the police in Johor.
Separately, police also arrested four men and a woman, in separate raids in connection to the kidnapping near the Cyberjaya exit of the MEX Expressway on July 11.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said during the kidnapping, the suspects kidnapped the victims, forcing them into a Toyota Alphard.
"Both victims were released on July 15 after the China national's sibling paid a ransom of USD1.1million (RM5.4million) using bitcoins," he told a press conference at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters here today.
The victims were released by a roadside along Jalan Pedas-Linggi, Negri Sembilan.
"Bukit Aman CID managed to identify the suspects involved. On Thursday night, we (tracked and) tailed a suspect driving around Jalan Skudai-Gelang Patah Johor.
"The suspect realised he was being followed and fired shots at the police.
"We returned fire in, and the 51-year-old suspect was killed."
A pistol was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
The suspect had six prior records and was previously detained under the Prevention of Crime Act.
Shuhaily said police traced three other suspects to a terrace house in Taman Emas, Skudai.
At around 12.05am on Friday, police went to the house and a shootout ensued. Three suspects, aged 35 to 45, were killed.
He said police also found two guns and a machete in the house.
"Based on our investigations, the group is linked to another kidnapping case and we are now tracing the ransom money."
"The case has been classified as attempted murder under Section 307 of the Penal Code," he said.
Shuhaily said the police's investigations also led to the arrests of four other men and a woman aged 25 to 43 in a series of raids.
During those raids, police seized three revolvers and a machete.