R. H. Estates : Kidnap Negotiator Praised

The City Council has commended resident Bahman (Bob) Sanjabi for assisting law enforcement officials in negotiating with a kidnaping suspect and winning the release of a year-old boy and his baby sitter.

“I think one of the best forms of crime deterrence is involvement. You show a good example of what other people can do,” said Mayor Peter Weber.

The infant and baby sitter were abducted from a street in August and the kidnaper demanded $100,000 ransom. When the payment was made at a Westchester restaurant, the suspect, Farhad Kashani, 26, was arrested by police and the FBI.

Because the suspect spoke little English, Palos Verdes Estates police asked Sanjabi, who emigrated from Iran 31 years ago, to negotiate with him in his native Farsi language. Sanjabi learned the location of the victims and they were freed unharmed.

Sanjabi was also commended by Palos Verdes Estates and County Supervisor Deane Dana.