JOHOR BARU: Three men, including two foreigners, were charged at the Sessions Court here today with kidnapping a 59-year-old businessman for a ransom of RM20 million.
One of the accused, businessman Chong Shih Ming, 46, pleaded not guilty before judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim.
His co-accused, Vietnamese Luong Van Tung, 39, and Tran Van Chung, 29, did not enter pleas due to language barriers.
According to the charge sheet, the three men, along with an unidentified accomplice, allegedly abducted the victim from Jalan Straits View here at 5am on Oct 13.
The offence falls under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1960, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor S. Thiviya opposed bail due to the serious nature of the charges, but proposed a high bail of RM30,000 if the court considered it, along with three additional conditions.
Chong's lawyer, K. Veeranesh, requested a lower bail, citing Chong's financial obligations, including supporting his elderly parents, adding that his client's average business income was between RM5,000 and RM6,000 per month.
The court granted Chong RM50,000 bail with one surety and imposed conditions requiring him to report to the police monthly, surrender his passport, and avoid contact with witnesses and the victim.
Luong and Tran were denied bail until their case reconvenes on Nov 17, pending translation of the charges.
In a separate case at the magistrate's court, a Vietnamese woman, 36, was charged with disposing of a Honda Accord 2.4, allegedly to shield Chong from legal consequences.
Nguyen Ngoc Ngan was charged under Section 201 of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine if convicted.
Nguyen pleaded not guilty, with her lawyer Goh Sze Han arguing for bail as she is married to a Malaysian and has two Malaysian children, aged 12 and 14.
Magistrate A. Sharmini set bail at RM7,000 and scheduled the next mention for Nov 17.