A man who went missing 27 years ago in the city of Djelfa in Algeria was found this Sunday in a neighbor’s basement, “a few meters” from the family home. The 61-year-old suspect was caught by authorities while attempting to escape.
Omar bin Omran, now 45, disappeared on his way to school when he was 17. The victim’s family assumed Omar had “already died”, the Algerian press reported.
The Djelfa Attorney General’s Office said Omar was found on May 12 at 8:00 pm after the prosecutor’s office received a complaint, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported.
According to the Algerian press, the kidnapper’s brother published “details” about Omar’s whereabouts on social networks, which resulted in a statement being sent to the authorities. The reason for the publication on social networks was a dispute over an inheritance between two brothers.
Photos of Omar’s rescue were posted on social media, showing him emerging from a basement covered with hay. Omar was taken to the hospital for medical treatment, both physical and psychological.
There are reports that the victim was unable to seek help because the suspect cast a spell on him.
The suspect, 61 years old, was a government employee who lived alone and was caught trying to escape.