Six Charged in Malaysia for Kidnapping, Robbing Singaporean Couple

Six individuals, including one woman, have been charged in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, with a series of offenses including kidnapping, robbery, confinement, and causing injury to a Singaporean couple earlier this month. The accused appeared before the Sessions and Magistrate's Courts on Friday.

Before Judge Nor Aziati Jaafar, the defendants, M. Balamurugan, 46; K. Sarawanan, 40; P. Sri Devi, 41; G. Puganeswaran, 41; S. Gobinath, 38; and X. Adwin Nicholas, 41, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping a Singaporean man for a ransom of SGD20,000 (approximately RM63,703.64). This alleged kidnapping occurred near a church on Jalan Orkid 36, Taman Sri Orkid, Skudai, around 2 p.m. on August 8. The charge falls under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a potential sentence of up to 40 years imprisonment and caning if convicted.

In a separate proceeding before Magistrate A. Shaarmini, the same six individuals denied charges of jointly abducting a Singaporean woman, Zaylen Zayraelle Xie Manting. The abduction, intended to cause her unlawful confinement, allegedly took place at Skudai Villa Apartments, Jalan Aman, Taman Skudai Baru, Skudai, between 2 p.m. on August 8 and August 11, spanning various locations in the Johor Bahru district. This charge is framed under Section 365 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34, punishable by up to seven years imprisonment and a fine.

Furthermore, before Judge Madihah Zainol, three of the accused, Balamurugan, Sarawanan, and Gobinath, pleaded not guilty to charges of gang robbery involving a gold necklace and a Rolex watch. This incident allegedly occurred inside a vehicle in the Johor Bahru district on August 8 and is prosecuted under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which allows for imprisonment up to 20 years and caning. In a final proceeding, Magistrate Nurzihan Abdul Rehman fined Sarawanan and Puganeswaran RM3,000 each after they admitted to causing injury to the male victim with a knife at an apartment in Taman Skudai Baru, Skudai, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on August 11, under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34. The courts granted bail totaling RM60,000 for Sri Devi, Adwin Nicholas, and Puganeswaran, and RM69,000 for Balamurugam, Saravanan, and Gobinath, each requiring local guarantors. Additional conditions include reporting to the nearest police station monthly and surrendering international passports. The next court date is set for September 23.