Three young men are in police custody this Monday after the kidnapping and sequestration of a 15-year-old teenager in Saint-Avertin, near Tours, in Indre-et-Loire, indicates the public prosecutor of Tours, Catherine Sorita-Minard, on X (formerly Twitter).
Sunday evening, according to France Bleu Touraine, a mother living in Haute-Savoie was contacted by individuals using the phone of her son, then staying with his grandparents in Saint-Avertin. The latter said they had kidnapped his 15-year-old boy, and demanded a ransom of several thousand euros for his release.
PRESS RELEASE following the opening of an investigation into kidnapping, sequestration, violence and attempted extortion last night in Joué-les-Tours. pic.twitter.com/wUq81JF75w
— 🇫🇷 Procureure Tours - Catherine Sorita-Minard (@ProcureureTours) April 8, 2024
A little later, the teenager's mother received a photo of her son, highlighting his swollen face. Having notified the police, the mother made an appointment with the police at 2 a.m. this Monday for the payment of the ransom.
A kidnapping with a unclear motive
Three young people, driving a Renault Clio, then presented themselves, with the victim on board the vehicle. They were immediately arrested by the police and placed in police custody for “kidnapping”, “aggravated violence” and “attempted extortion of a 15-year-old minor” this Monday. This police custody will be extended, indicates the prosecution.
The three suspects are adults, born in 2006, domiciled in Joué-les-Tours, and “have no previous criminal record”, specifies prosecutor Catherine Sorita-Minard. “The motive for these facts remains unclear,” indicates the magistrate, who adds that, “at this stage, the facts do not appear to be linked to drug trafficking.” The investigation is being carried out by the Tours police station.
For his part, “the victim shows signs of blows to his face and hands. She was hospitalized and should be released this afternoon,” specifies the prosecutor. The boy was seen by a forensic doctor, and his Total Incapacity for Work remains to be determined.