Kidnapped Saudi businessman narrates ordeal in Egypt

Jeddah: Saudi businessman Hassan Al-Sanad, who had been kidnapped by a gang in Cairo, was released after his son paid a ransom of five million Egyptian pounds.

“The kidnappers had actually demanded a much higher amount in Saudi riyals, but my son, Ali, negotiated with them and delivered the cash in Egyptian pounds,” he told local media.

Al-Sanad was abducted by a masked gang on April 26 on the highway linking the city of Esmailiya with Cairo and was released on May 5.

According to Al-Sanad, the criminals treated him harshly during the days of captivity and snatched his medicines also along with other things. “I am a diabetic and need medicines, but I was deprived of it. I was only offered biscuits to eat so that I would survive,” he said.

“They gave me a digging tool and told me ‘with this you will dig your grave’. I told them that it is Allah Who takes away our souls. If He wants this, it will happen. Otherwise, you would not be able to do anything.”

Speaking about the way he was kidnapped, Al-Sanad said they fired at his car, then wrapped him and the driver with a blanket. “They hit us on our heads and feet before whisking us away to a location that was about 45 minutes from where we were kidnapped,” he was quoted as saying.

Al-Sanad said they locked them inside a cage and blindfolded them. “The kidnappers came to see us only at night. One of them handed me a mobile phone so that I could speak with the gang leader who never showed up.

He insisted on a high ransom. They eventually got the money after three days and then left us in the desert. They kept the mobile with us, and asked us not to open our eyes for the next two hours,” he said.

However, the businessman said he opened his eyes only after ten minutes and discovered that he was in a desolate place in the desert.

“I called the police and after two attempts, I got through. But when they asked me where I was, I could not answer and I had to walk for around one hour until I reached a public road. There, I stopped a car and asked the driver. I conveyed the name to the police who said they would reach me within 20 minutes.

However, after one hour, they did not show up and I called a friend who reached me before they did and he took me to a hospital, I am diabetic and needed treatment. Throughout the ordeal, I was given only water and biscuit, just to keep me alive,” he added.