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PETALING JAYA: Police shot dead four people believed to be part of a kidnapping ring in an operation in Skudai, Johor Bahru, last night.

Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Shuhaily Zain said in the same operation, police also arrested four more people, aged between 25 and 43, including a woman, today.

Shuhaily said the group was suspected of being involved in the kidnapping of a male Chinese national and a local woman near the Maju Expressway toll plaza near Cyberjaya at 11am on July 11.

He said both victims were released on the evening of July 15 by the roadside along the Pedas-Linggi route in Negeri Sembilan.

This came after the brother of the Chinese national paid a ransom in cryptocurrency amounting to US$1,161,127 (RM5,457,290) to the group.

“Based on the intelligence collected and investigations, police managed to identify the suspects involved.

“At 11.25pm yesterday, police tracked a suspect driving a Perodua Kelisa on Jalan Skudai-Gelang Patah, Johor.

"Upon realising he was being followed by the police, the suspect opened fire at the police car. The police fired several shots, resulting in the death of the 51-year-old suspect," he told a press conference today.

Shuhaily said further checks revealed the suspect had six previous convictions for criminal cases and had been previously detained under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959.

He said the other three persons were subsequently died in a shootout at a terrace house in Taman Emas, Skudai, at 12.05am.

“When the police arrived at the house and introduced themselves, no one opened the door. However, when the team entered the house, they came under fire.

"A shootout ensued, and three male suspects, aged 35, 39 and 45, were shot and killed at the scene. Police recovered a parang and two pistols in the house," he said.

Shuhaily said initial investigations revealed that the group was only involved in one kidnapping case and police are tracing the ransom money.

"The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code. Anyone with information on the kidnapping gang is urged to come forward to assist in the probe," he added.