Girl, 9, outwits kidnapper

A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl managed to fend off a kidnap attempt by being smart enough to trick the 'kind stranger' who offered to take her to her mother.

School was done for the day and Pang Soo Sin was inside the school compound at 4pm on Feb 8 waiting for the bus. Soon, a woman approached and said she was sent by her mother to pick her up.

The girl was reluctant to follow her. She tried to stall for time by asking if the woman knew her mother's name. When the woman became hesitant, Soo Sin realised that something was wrong and quickly thought of a way to trick her.

Soo Sin told the woman she wanted to call her mother and asked for 50 sen (S$0.21). While the woman rummaged through her purse, Soo Sin ran to the school bus which had arrived at that time.

'My teacher always reminded us not to follow strangers. We are also taught to ask the stranger for our parents' names. If the stranger does not know, something is wrong,' said Soo Sin at a press conference at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau.

Soo Sin added that she was terrified throughout the ordeal. Her mother, Moh Swee Koon, 53, said she was grateful Soo Sin had been clever enough not to fall prey to the ploy. Moh lodged a police report two days after the incident.

- Sitiemilia , Singapore.