By STEVEN CHIEW

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Police arrested three suspected kidnappers, including a woman, shortly after they collected RM35,000 (S$14,537) in ransom for the release of a college student abducted several days ago.

The three, aged between 19 and 22, were arrested at about 3.05am after their car overturned when they attempted to make a U-turn at a traffic light near a hypermarket in Rawang while being pursued by police.

Sources said the victim, aged 22, was abducted in front of her house in Selayang Baru at about 5.45am on Dec 1 while she was waiting for a taxi to go to college.

She was released near Bukit Bintang unhurt about 2.45am yesterday.

It is believed the police followed the suspects from Bukit Bintang to Rawang after the kidnappers released the woman.

Upon learning that they were being tailed, they tried to escape before the accident happened.

It is learnt that after she was abducted, the kidnappers contacted her family and demanded for the ransom of RM35,000.

The family paid the ransom on Friday.

It is also learnt that after they kidnapped the woman, they used her handphone to send an SMS to her cousin sister saying that she was with a man in an apparent attempt to divert the attention of the police.

Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rahim Abdullah said they searched the suspects' house in Selayang Baru where the victim was held captive and recovered two motorcycles which were reported stolen.

The three have been remanded for 10 days and all of them are being investigated under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act which carries the death sentence or life imprisonment if convicted.