Colombian authorities said Tuesday they will pay up to 50 million pesos (about 2.684 million yen) for information on the kidnapping last month of a Japanese business executive, Colombian media reported.
Colombian army authorities tasked with handling kidnap cases said informants will receive between 5 million pesos and 50 million pesos for information leading to resolving the abduction of Chikao Muramatsu, vice president of a local joint venture of Japanese auto-parts maker Yazaki Corp.
The reward, which will come from the army's budget, is the largest offered in Colombia for information on an abduction case, according to authorities.
It is hoped the bounty will encourage people with relevant information to come forward, as authorities have scant knowledge of the victim's whereabouts or situation.
Police sources said that Muramatsu, 52, was kidnapped Feb. 22 in northern Bogota while returning home and was subsequently handed over to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest leftist guerrilla group.
Local media said FARC is reportedly demanding a ransom of about $7 million for Muramatsu's release.