KOTA TINGGI: A welder and a scrap collector were brought before the magistrate's court today on charges of disposing of a firearm, ammunition, and handcuffs in an attempt to protect a kidnapping suspect last month.
The accused, Tan Kuan Wei, 43, and Siow Boon Pin, 38, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read in Mandarin by magistrate Nurkhalida Farhana Abu Bakar.
According to the charge sheet, the two men are alleged to have intentionally disposed of a Piettro Beretta Gardone V T type pistol made in Italy, 250 rounds of live ammunition, and a pair of handcuffs with two keys.
This act was reportedly committed to protect Chong Shih Ming, 46, who is under investigation for kidnapping under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961.
The alleged offence took place at Farm Vacay on Jalan Johor River at 4.15pm on Oct 26.
Both men were charged under Section 201 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison and/or a fine upon conviction.
The prosecution was represented by deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Khairuddin Khalid and Foo Fang Leong, while the accused were not represented.
During the proceedings, Tan requested a lower bail amount, citing a monthly income of RM2,000.
Siow also sought a reduced bail despite having no dependents. The court subsequently set bail at RM8,000 for each accused, requiring sureties.
Additional conditions included monthly reporting to the police and surrendering their passports to the court.
They were also warned against contacting or intimidating any witnesses involved in the case.
The case is scheduled for mention again on Nov 25.
Meanwhile, Chong, who faces charges of kidnapping for ransom in the amount of RM20 million at the Johor Baru Sessions Court, was also charged under the Firearms Act 1960.
He was brought to the Johor Baru High Court after the prosecution requested a review of his bail, which was set at RM50,000 by Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim.