Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Shuhaily Zain said the road transport department (JPJ) had verified that the number plates were fake, Kosmo reported.

“Our focus now is to determine the actual vehicle models. We have issued instructions to track them using available resources, including CCTV footage around Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and the Selangor border.

“Through this, we will be able to locate the vehicles matching the description of the ones used in Ling’s abduction,” he was quoted as saying.

Shuhaily added that police had recorded statements from 16 people, including Ling’s husband, her e-hailing driver and her lawyer.

The case is being investigated under Section 365 of the Penal Code for abduction with intent to wrongfully confine a person.

Ling was on her way to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s headquarters on April 9 to give a statement related to an ongoing investigation when she was allegedly abducted, with the e-hailing vehicle she was in cornered by three other cars.

Police said she had visited the anti-graft agency’s headquarters several times before her disappearance. The e-hailing driver claimed that three individuals had emerged from the vehicles wearing police outfits.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that Ling’s abduction was partly orchestrated to discredit MACC and the police.