The sister, Tatiana Novosyolova, accompanied by her husband, Sergei Lukianov, was speaking through interpreter Dr Weenarat Vorawong with Pol Col Peerayuth Karajedi, Deputy Police Chief of Phuket.
Mrs Novosyolova said, “I am very worried about my brother. He is a very good man – all his friends like him; some of the reward money came from his friends.
“I beg the police and anybody else who has the clue about [the whereabouts of] the two accused men, to please inform any police station. There will also be a reward for anybody who helps to find my brother.”
At the meeting at Provincial Police HQ in Phuket Town, it was explained that the reward money is split into three parts.
B100,000 will go to anyone providing information that leads to Mr Slabinsky being found, while B250,000 will go to anyone giving a tip-off that leads to the arrest of either of the two men wanted by police for the kidnapping of Mr Slabinsky and his girlfriend Yana Strizheus.
The two are Oleksandr Boychuk – identified by Russian media as fugitive ex-Russian Navy Major Andrei Zabelin (see story here) – who is wanted on charges of physically detaining a person or persons against their will, and conspiracy to steal B250,000; and fellow Russian Aleksandr Novichkov, wanted on the same charges and for attempted rape.
She added a plea for the media to be more accurate in their reporting, citing some reports that the badly battered body of her brother had already been found. “Please check your news every time before you publish it,” she said.
Col Peerayuth said, “All police units are searching around the clock for the missing person and the two accused men. If anybody sees them, please contact Pol Lt Col Prawit Engchuan at 081-415-8668 or Pol Lt Col Padej Ngamlamom at 081-558 8232.
Ms Strizheus was rescued after being found injured in a hotel at the south end of Bang Tao Bay, and has told a harrowing tale of violence at the hands of Zabelin and Novichkov. She is now recovering, under guard, at Vachira Phuket Hospital. Mr Slabinsky, however has not been sighted since she saw him being wrapped in sheets and thrown into the back of a pick-up truck at the hotel.