$5M ransom demanded for St Clair businessman

A $5 million ransom has been demanded for the safe return of kidnapped St Clair businessman John Chay. On Wednesday night, a male caller telephoned the St Clair home of Chay and demanded the money.

The caller also advised relatives to come up with the cash by today.
Yesterday, a female relative of Chay told Newsday that the family has not received any other word from kidnappers. The relative added that the family had nothing more to say. The call was made from a public pay phone. Relatives of Chay gathered at his Elizabeth Street, St Clair, home yesterday to lend support to his worried family. The security guard who was interviewed by police on Wednesday after he told police that he had witnessed the kidnapping was re-interviewed yesterday. The guard claimed that he could not identify the kidnappers because of poor lighting. He also claimed the kidnappers were masked.

Police sources said yesterday that based on the statement given by the guard and workable prints found in Chay’s car, they may be able to make a breakthrough in the kidnapping. Chay, 42, was reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday night by three masked gunmen who forced him off the road at Serpentine Road, St Clair. He crashed into a wall and was then ordered at gunpoint into a car with the three kidnappers. His car was towed to the St Clair Police Station where it was tested for prints. The kidnapping of Chay for ransom is the 43rd for the year so far. Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad are investigating.