A 20-year-old college student has been charged in a court with kidnapping his father for a ransom, which was paid by his mother, local media reported today.

Jacob Jebaraj and five others allegedly kidnapped 53-year-old clerk Ponusamy Nalathamby on July 1 and held him for 24 hours until his wife paid a RM50,000 ransom.

Ponusamy, who was released unharmed, has engaged a lawyer for his son, who faces a maximum penalty of death by hanging, the New Straits Times reported.

The accused were not asked to plead to the charge, and the case was set down for Oct 10. - AFP