A man has been arrested in Elche for faking a kidnapping in order to hide his gambling debts from his partner. Police sources say that the 31-year-old man was arrested for pretending to be the victim of a kidnapping and violent robbery in order to keep his gambling debts a secret. According to the investigation, the man called 091 to report that he had just been kidnapped and that those responsible had stolen a large sum of money, his mobile phone and that of his partner.
Several officers from Elche Police Station were dispatched to the aid of the man. When police arrived, the man claimed that earlier that morning, a person had threatened him by holding a sharp object to his neck, demanding money and phones. He also reported that the alleged aggressor demanded that he go to several ATMs in order to withdraw a total of 1,000 euros.
According to police sources, the agents began the usual protocol for the investigation of violent crimes but once the complainant went to the police station, he decided to change his statement. Eventually, the man told Elche National Police that he had pretended to be the victim of a crime in order to hide the debt that he owed from his partner. It is believed that the man did withdraw cash on the day of the fake kidnapping, but gave it and the phones to the person to whom he owed money.
The complainant was arrested for simulating a crime.