SEPANG: Six people, including a married couple, were charged with kidnapping a Chinese national to demand a ransom in the form of Bitcoin worth US$1 million last month.
The six individuals are Chen Jun Hiong, 29, Law Han Wei, 29, Dhinnesh Tan Kin Yhuan, 30, Jong Li Liat, 25, Loh Yew Jian, 30, and Wong Xiao Yen, 29.
All of them pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them before judge Amir Affendy Hamzah.
According to the charge sheet, they were accused, along with four others still at large, of unlawfully detaining a Chinese national to demand a ransom amounting to US$1,007,696.
The offence was committed at the Cyberjaya exit of the Maju Expressway (MEX) at 11am on July 11.
They were charged under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read together with Section 34 of the same act, which carries a maximum jail term of 40 years and whipping, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamed Wafi Husain prosecuted.
The accused were represented by Datin G. Freda Sabapatty, Mohd Zali Shaari, Nur Aminahtul Mardhiah Md Nor, P. Haresh and Bernard Francis.
Mohamed Wafi did not offer any bail, as the offence is non-bailable.
However, each lawyer pleaded bail for their clients, citing the need to support their families and their willingness to comply with additional conditions, such as surrendering their passports to the court and reporting to a nearby police station.
After hearing arguments from all parties, Amir Affendy denied bail for all the accused.
"After considering all arguments and the charges, the court has decided that bail cannot be granted," he said.
He also fixed Oct 8 for mention.
On July 11, police arrested four men and a woman in connection with the case during raids near the Cyberjaya exit of the MEX Expressway.
Their victims — the Chinese national and a local woman — were freed on July 15 after the sibling of the Chinese national paid a ransom of US$1.1 million in Bitcoin. They were released by the roadside in Jalan Pedas-Linggi, Negri Sembilan.
Following the ransom payment, four suspects involved in the kidnapping were identified and subsequently killed in a police shootout on Aug 1.
Among the suspects detained was the victim's chauffeur, and authorities are still searching for four more suspects believed to be connected to the case.
Further investigations have led to the recovery of RM1.5 million in cash, six luxury watches, six handbags and several vehicles.
The suspects are believed to be debt collectors. The mastermind behind the kidnapping was among those killed in the shootout.