A woman resorted to fabricating a kidnapping story, demanding a ransom of RM70,000 from her family in a desperate attempt to pay off her debts to ‘Ah Long’ or loan sharks.

Melaka Tengah police chief Christopher Patit said the 55-year-old woman was arrested around 3.30am yesterday after she was found at a surau near a petrol station in Taman Sri Maharani, Muar, Johor.

“The woman’s 22-year-old son reported her missing...