ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

An Azerbaijani man has been arrested after he kidnapped and held for ransom two Ukrainians vacationing in Istanbul.

The perpetrator, identified as Enver S., 46, was arrested in Istanbul on Sept. 21 after relatives of the two Ukrainians, identified as Roman O., 23, and W.B., 45, informed the Consulate General of Ukraine in Istanbul, which later notified the Istanbul Police Department that the two Ukrainians had been kidnapped for a $150,000 ransom.

After launching an investigation into the kidnapping, police officers plotted a set up and asked the Ukrainians’ relatives to meet the perpetrator in the hotel’s lobby to hand over the ransom.

Enver S. was arrested outside the hotel where the relatives of the kidnapped tourists were staying as he attempted to get into their car, which had been offered as a down payment for the ransom.

The police officers then asked the Azerbaijani perpetrator to tell them where he was hiding the two Ukrainians.

Roman O. and W.B. were freed after the police officers raided the locked room where they had been held.

The police officers also seized an automatic-action rifle, a large amount of ammunition, several fake passports and 9,600 Turkish Liras found in the room.

Enver S. was sent to prison after official procedures were completed in the police station.