Three masked men tried to force a Ukrainian businessman into a van in Oroklini on Thursday evening, but fled on foot when he fought back, leaving behind a pistol, fake number plates and a wig.
The 51-year-old told police he previously served as a minister in Ukraine, a claim investigators are now examining. He said he had no disputes with anyone.
Police are investigating the motives behind the attempted abduction, with the abandoned evidence now under forensic examination.
The weapon will be sent for ballistics tests to determine if it is linked to any criminal activity, whilst attempts will be made to extract DNA from the other evidence that might lead to the perpetrators.
According to police, the 51-year-old telephoned them around 7.20pm on Thursday reporting that three unknown individuals attacked him and tried to force him into a commercial vehicle using violence.
Police who rushed to the scene found the 51-year-old, who told officers that whilst at home with his 36-year-old partner and her 72-year-old father, they noticed the commercial vehicle parked near the house with three people inside.
The vehicle aroused the 51-year-old’s suspicions, and he and the 72-year-old approached it to check. As they neared the vehicle, they were reportedly attacked by the three unknown individuals, who had their faces covered with surgical masks.
The two men resisted, causing the attackers to flee, leaving the commercial vehicle at the scene.
Subsequent examinations revealed the number plates on the commercial vehicle belonged to another vehicle, whilst inside police found and seized a pistol with an empty magazine and other evidence. Both the 51-year-old and the 72-year-old sustained minor injuries from the attack.
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