Swiss man abducted, robbed

A Swiss interior designer who has been doing business in the country for the last 16 years was robbed by at least three suspects who abducted him in Manila and left him at the main square of Malabon City early yesterday.

Senior Inspector Romeo Odrada, city police investigation chief, identified the victim as Christian Hofer, 35, who is married to a Filipina by whom he has two children. Hofer,  a native of Lucerne, Switzerland, resides in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

Hofer said he was waiting for a taxi at around 8 p.m. Friday along United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila, some 50 meters away from the Manila Police District headquarters, when two unidentified men approached him.

At gunpoint, they shoved him into a red Mazda 3 with “for registration” plates. While inside the car, the suspects divested him of his cash and valuables, including P3,000 and 100 euros, his Swiss national ID, credit cards and a pair of Hush Puppies shoes.

Hofer said the suspects drove around the metropolis and dumped him in front of a bank on Rizal Avenue Extension in Barangay San Agustin, Malabon City before fleeing with the loot.

Police said they are investigating the case. – Jerry Botial