A businessman who claims to have been held hostage at an unknown location for eight months before his sudden reappearance in January has sought to quash rumours he had engaged in fraud.

A wealthy businessman found wandering a lonely border road in a barefoot and dishevelled condition last Tuesday is to face formal questioning by gardaí later this week about his mysterious disappearance.

Gardaí are desperately trying to build up a picture of the gang suspected of kidnapping businessman Kevin Michael McGeever.