Three policemen were ordered by the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today to enter their defence over a charge of kidnapping 46-year-old businessman K Gopala Guru at Jalan Loke Yew five years ago.

Judge Shamsudin Abdullah found that the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case against the three.

Mohd Khairul Hafiz Yaacob, Azlan Abdul Kadir and Amran Md Sali were charged together with Khairon Zaidee Basiron with abducting Gopala Guru between 7pm and 7.30pm on Feb 2, 2013. They were charged under Section 365 of the Penal Code.

Khairon Zaidee, however, passed away last year.

Two of the accused, Mohd Khairul and Azlan, are also facing a separate murder charge at the Shah Alam court.

If convicted, the three face a maximum seven-year jail term as well as a fine.

Gopala Guru's family lawyer Quratulain Atiqah Norzahirul Anuar confirmed with Malaysiakini that the three have been called for defence, which Shamsudin fixed for Jan 30.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Nor Farhan appeared for the prosecution, while lawyers Farid Azis and Ridha Adha appeared for the accused.

Two years ago, the plight of widow V Satiavani, who believed there was a cover-up in her husband's abduction, came to public attention. 

Her husband's abduction had forced her to return to work as a nurse overseas to support her family.

Gopala Guru ran a movie production house and several dance clubs.

Following the abduction, his BMW car was found badly burnt in Ulu Yam, with the engine and chassis number unidentifiable.

This led to four people above being charged in Nov 2015.

A witness testified last February that he had seen one of the accused shoot Gopala Guru dead, which led his family and brother K Dasnamurthy to ask the prosecution to charge the four with murder.  

However, the request was turned down by the Attorney-General's Chambers.