Larnaca police are examining online messages allegedly connected to the kidnapping of a missing 22-year-old Bangladeshi student, as searches for his whereabouts continue.
The messages, which were posted online and are said to be linked to the disappearance of Sahruar Ahmed Emon, reportedly demand €10,000 on Sunday and €25,000 on Monday from a named recipient. The messages allegedly warn the recipient that “if you tell anyone you will never see his face again.” Police said the authenticity of the messages is under examination.
In a statement, police said the messages that came to public attention had been in their possession and knowledge from the outset and that their authenticity is under examination.
Police said they also hold additional multimedia files, either located independently or handed over to them, whose authenticity is also being investigated. Police said all technological tools are being used to locate Emon or establish where he was or visited from the moment he left his place of residence, the statement said.
Police said searches had been conducted at various locations from the outset and that statements had been taken from persons who appear to have been in contact with Emon. Investigations are continuing to identify additional persons, given that Emon has been in Cyprus for only a short period, police said. Police have also been in contact with Emon’s father, who lives abroad, as well as with the authorities of the relevant country.
On June 12, unknown persons contacted Emon’s father and told him his son had been kidnapped and that they were demanding a ransom, according to a police statement issued at the time. There has been no further communication since, and police have issued repeated appeals for information that could help locate him.
Emon, a student living in Oroklini with other persons, left home at 18:30 on June 12 and told those present he was heading to a factory in the Kofinou area for his first day of work.
Police located the last signal from his mobile phone in Kofinou, where searches were conducted without result. Police believe he travelled to the area by bus as he had no vehicle. Bus routes are under examination and police are seeking CCTV footage to establish whether his movements were recorded.
Later that evening, Emon sent a location pin via a mobile application to a friend, after which there was no further contact.
Police are asking anyone with information that could help locate Emon to contact CID Larnaca on 24804096 or 24804060, the Citizen’s Line on 1460, or the nearest police station.