A 22-year-old merchant navy oiler from Mulund mysteriously disappeared from a vessel in Malaysia five months ago. The agent, who promised him a job, claimed that he had died in an accident on the vessel. But soon after, the oiler’s sister received WhatsApp messages seeking ransom for his release. After his family’s efforts, the Royal Malaysian police are looking for him. The Mulund police recently registered a case of cheating against the agent, whom the family found to be dubious.

Manikandan Udiyar had gone to Kapit, Malaysia, to be employed as an oiler on a vessel. But he was apparently asked to work on a temporary basis till he paid a pending amount  promised to his agent. His family has had no communication with him since October 15, 2022. The agent claimed that he had died in an accident on the ship. An FIR has been registered against the agent for cheating Udiyar and his family by accepting Rs 1.95 lakh. The police said the agent is in Malaysia.