Six Charged in Johor Over Kidnapping of Singaporean Couple and Ransom Demand

JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 21 — Six individuals, including a woman, were charged at the Sessions Court today with kidnapping a 32-year-old Singaporean man to obtain a ransom of S$20,000 (RM63,000) earlier this month.

The accused — M. Balamurugan, 46; K. Saravanan, 40; P. Sri Devi, 41; G. Puganeswaran, 38; S. Gobinath, 38; and X. Adwin Nicholas, 41 — pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Nor Aziati Jaafar.

According to the charge sheet, the six were accused of acting with joint intent to kidnap the victim for ransom in front of a church in Skudai at approximately 2:00 PM on August 8.

The offence was framed under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 40 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor R. Nevina urged the court to deny bail, citing the severity of the non-bailable offence.

However, defense lawyer K. Veeranesh, representing Sri Devi, appealed for bail, stating that his client was unemployed with children aged between one and 22. Counsel for the other co-accused also sought bail on family responsibility grounds.

Judge Nor Aziati granted bail at RM50,000 with two local sureties for each accused. The court imposed additional conditions requiring them to refrain from contacting or harassing the victim and prosecution witnesses, report to the nearest police station monthly, and surrender their international passports.

Second Kidnapping Charge at Magistrate’s Court

In a separate proceeding at the Magistrate’s Court, all six suspects entered a plea of not guilty before Magistrate A. Shaarmini over the kidnapping and wrongful confinement of a 33-year-old Singaporean woman.

They are accused of committing the offence at Skudai Villa Apartment on Jalan Aman, Taman Skudai Baru, between 2:00 PM on August 8 and 6:30 PM on August 11.

The charge was brought under Section 365 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years and a fine upon conviction.

Magistrate Shaarmini granted bail at RM10,000 with two sureties for each accused, along with an order to surrender their passports.

Gang Robbery and Assault Charges

In another Sessions Court room, Balamurugan, Saravanan, and Gobinath pleaded not guilty before Judge Madihah Zainol to a charge of gang robbery involving the same 32-year-old Singaporean man.

They were accused of robbing the victim of a gold necklace and a Rolex watch inside a vehicle in Johor Bahru Utara at around 2:00 PM on August 8. The charge under Section 395 of the Penal Code provides for up to 20 years’ imprisonment and caning upon conviction.

Judge Madihah allowed bail at RM9,000 each with one local surety, ordering the trio to surrender their passports, report monthly to a police station, and refrain from intimidating witnesses.

In a summary proceeding before Magistrate Nurzihan Abdul Rehman, Saravanan and Puganeswaran were fined RM3,000 each after pleading guilty to causing hurt to the Singaporean man with a knife at an apartment in Taman Skudai Baru between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on August 11.

The offence was framed under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34. The court ordered both men to serve six months’ imprisonment if they fail to pay the fine.

All courts fixed September 23 for case mention and the formal appointment of legal counsel.

–NMT