Teenager among 7 charged with kidnap

A teenager was among a group of seven men who were charged in the Magistrate's Court here today with the abduction of a teenage son of a scrap-metal dealer early this month.

However no plea was recorded from all the accused, comprising H. Gobinath, 36; Saravanan, 33; S. Elangovan, 29; S. Simon Lazarus, 22; S. Ramesh, 21; P. Thiban, 20 and the 17-year-old boy.

The charge was read out to them in Tamil by a court interpreter before Magistrate Mohd Hairol Jemain.

They were jointly charged with the abduction of the 17-year-old son of the scrap dealer and holding him for ransom of RM3 million.

The offence was allegedly committed in front of Sekolah Menengah Kamunting Bakti, Kamunting, at 11pm last Sept 2.

They were charged under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides the death sentence or imprisonment for life, and shall if not sentenced to death, also liable to whipping, upon conviction.

The prosecution is conducted by deputy public prosecutors Mohd Azrul Faidz and Safiyatun Ahmadun.

Lawyers J.Matthews represented Thiban, while P.Ravi. appeared for Gobinath and Saravanan.

The four other accused were unrepresented.

The court set Nov 21 for mention. -- BERNAMA