Police investigating the disappearance of a 22-year-old Bangladeshi student are examining alleged ransom messages demanding €35,000 for his release, as efforts to trace his whereabouts continue.
The case concerns Shahruar Ahmed Emon, who has been missing since the afternoon of 12 June after leaving his residence in Oroklini.
Threatening messages
According to reports, investigators from the Larnaca Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are analysing a series of threatening text messages that allegedly were sent by the suspected abductors to the missing student's father, who is believed to be living abroad.
The messages reportedly demanded a total of €35,000 in exchange for the student's release. One of the messages allegedly stated: “You have to pay €10,000 on Sunday and €25,000 on Monday. If you can’t pay, I’ll send you a kidney.” Another reportedly warned: “If you tell anyone, you won’t be able to see their face.”
A police official confirmed that investigators are aware of the messages and that they form part of the wider inquiry. Authorities are also examining additional multimedia files that have either been obtained by police or circulated online in connection with the case.
Investigators are working to establish the authenticity of the material and determine whether it is directly linked to the suspected abduction.
Passport missing
Police enquiries remain focused on locating the missing student, identifying those responsible and tracing any individuals who may have come into contact with him before his disappearance.
According to investigators, Emon left the flat where he lived with roommates in Oroklini on 12 June, intending to travel to a factory in Kofinou for what was expected to be his first day of work. He has not been seen or heard from since.
His passport is reportedly missing from his residence, while his flatmates told police they were unaware of the exact location where he was due to work.
Authorities said the last known signal from the student's mobile phone was detected in the Kofinou area. Despite extensive searches, he had not been located as of Friday evening.
As part of the investigation, detectives have also reviewed CCTV footage in an effort to reconstruct the route taken by the student on the day he disappeared.
