Suspect related to victim charged in RM20m kidnap ransom case

A 57-year-old woman is charged in the Johor Bahru Sessions Court for kidnapping a Johor businessperson with a ransom demand of RM20 million.

It was widely reported in the Chinese media that the woman is believed to be a relative of the victim.

According to Harian Metro, the accused Chan Wan Kooi, 57, understood the charges read to her in Mandarin by the court interpreter.

However, no plea was recorded before judge Hazeelia Muhammad, as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the high court.

According to the charge sheet, she is alleged to have conspired in the criminal act with Chong Shih Ming, Luong Van Tung, and Tran Van Chung to kidnap a 59-year-old man for a ransom of RM20 million.

The act was allegedly committed at a house on Jalan Straits View at around 5am on Oct 13.

The charge is made under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read together with Section 109 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years' imprisonment and caning.

Deputy public prosecutor Umar Faiz Abdul Kohar objected to any bail being granted to the accused, as the case will be heard in the high court, including the issue of bail.

Director of companies, grandmother of 4

According to the report, defence lawyer Jagjit Singh Bant Singh requested bail, citing that his client had already been in remand for an extended period and suffered from a heart condition.

“The accused has three children aged 28 to 36 and four grandchildren aged four to nine, whom she cares for.

“My client undergoes regular health check-ups. It is understood that she is also a director of two companies and has a permanent address in Johor Bahru. There is no risk of her absconding,” he stated.

In today’s proceedings, the prosecution was also represented by DPP Nor Maisarah Hassan, while Fairoz Elyas Majeed and Ng Kian Pin acted as observing lawyers.

The court rejected the defence’s bail application and set Nov 17 for case re-mention.

According to Johor police chief M Kumar’s statement last night, three individuals have been charged in the same court under the same provisions on Nov 4 in connection with the case. They include one local man and two foreign men aged between 29 and 49.

According to the statement, all three suspects were denied bail, and the case is scheduled for mention again on Nov 17.

“The police have seized several items believed to be linked to the investigation, including one Pietro Beretta pistol, 250 pieces of ammunition, a pair of handcuffs, and cash totalling RM1.95 million, SG$1 million, and US$400,000,” said Kumar.

According to The Star, the victim was set to leave on a business trip when he was kidnapped. The abductors initially demanded a ransom of RM30 million, which was later negotiated down to RM20 million.

A total of 14 suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, including 10 locals and three Vietnamese nationals, comprising two men and one woman.

Police have also recovered over RM7 million of the RM20 million ransom paid to the kidnappers.

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