THE STAR – Three men pleaded not guilty in the Ampang Magistrate’s Court in Malaysia to a charge of kidnapping a businessman at a restaurant last week.
Lim Chee Hau, 40; Yeo Chian Huat, 37; and Yong Hong Choon, 47; were jointly charged with abducting Lian Ooi Long, 38, with the intention of secretly and wrongfully confining the latter.
They were charged with committing the offence at a restaurant in Taman Pandan Indah at 5.03pm on September 29, according to Section 365 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code which provides for a maximum prison sentence of seven years, and a possible fine, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Ameera Sam Kamaruddin offered bail of MYR10,000 for each accused.
Lawyer Ethan Tan Wei Hong, who represented Lim and Yeo, asked for a reduced bail amount on the grounds that both of his clients were supporting their families, while lawyer Lau Yih Ying, representing Yong, also asked for lower bail because his client was suffering from cancer.
Magistrate Normaizan Rahim allowed each accused to be bailed at MYR4,000 in one surety with the condition that their passports must be surrendered to the court.
They were also required to report to the nearby police station once a month.
The court then set December 14 for mention of the case.
Before Magistrate Amalina Basirah Md Top, Yeo pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing injury to Lian at the same place, time and date.
