Businessman Raja al-Zuhairi Released after 3-Day Kidnap Ordeal

The abductors of prominent Druze businessman Raja al-Zuhairi released him on Sunday after a three-day kidnap ordeal.

Speaking to reporters, Zuhairi said the kidnappers blindfolded him and moved him in several cars before reaching the place of detention after many hours.

“I was released this evening on the occasion of Eid (al-Fitr) as the guys told me. I left and arrived on the airport road and grabbed a taxi that took me home,” Zuhairi said.

Answering a question, the freed businessman said he did not manage to identify his captors.

Zuhairi said the abductors treated him in a good manner, noting that he did not pay any ransom.

He also revealed that some of the kidnappers were wounded on Friday as security forces opened fire at the car he was in during the kidnap operation.

The released man slammed the security forces who tried to liberate him, accusing them of shooting indiscriminately at the car instead of trying to target its tires.

Zuhairi said the abduction happened around 6:00 p.m. when he left Lazy Beach in Jiyyeh.

Unknown assailants demanded on Friday a one-million-dollar ransom in exchange for Zuhairi’s release, NNA had reported on Friday.

According to NNA, the kidnappers contacted the father-in-law of Zuhairi demanding him to pay the ransom.

LBCI reported that a GMC Envoy intercepted the car of Zuhairi Thursday night.

The vehicle was found parked on the side of a road in Aramoun.