Four kidnappers abducted Zhang Yingqi, the richest man in Yibin, a medium city in Southwest China, on Nov. 10 and forced him to kill a female stranger on camera. The abductees are demanding 100 million yuan as ransom.

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According to The Beijing News, the suspects seems to have kept an eye on Zhang's daily routine for a long time. They even rented an apartment in the same residential building in Cuipin District where Zhang lived in order to be his "neighbor."

Zhang was abducted in the elevator of the residential building. He was on way home alone one afternoon when the incident occured. The four kidnappers used pepper spray and tied him with ropes. Since the elevator has no camera, security guards in the residential area failed to notice the abduction. 

After throwing Zhang in a car, the kidnappers moved him to another location of the city. They reportedly threatened Zhang using a hand-made gun, forcing him to kill a female employee working at a massage service center. Police have not disclosed more details about how this female came into the picture and why they may have chosen her. The killing was recorded by the four kidnappers, who are asking for 100 million yuan as ransom. 

Zhang was later set free. But the kidnappers threatened that if he cannot raise the 100 million yuan ransom before March 2016, the video of him killing the woman would be released to the public.

Zhang called the police once out of danger and the four suspects have since been arrested. 

Should Zhang be be granted amnesty for the murder or not? This topic has become controversial on Chinese social media sites. Some Weibo users hold the view that Zhang hould be freed because he was forced to commit the murder. But others argue that every one's life is equally important and he might have been able to find another way at that time to negotiate with kidnappers, instead of sacrificing an innocent stranger. 

Zhang is the president of Yibin Yili Science and Technology Company.

TagsZhang Yingqi, Yibin Yili Science and Technology Company, Zhang Yingqi Kidnapped, Yibin Richest Man Kidnapped and Forced to Kill Woman on Camera