Four Chinese nationals face kidnapping charge after Singaporean allegedly held for RM3.28m ransom

Four Chinese nationals - Liu Ting Jun, 46, Huang Jian, 39, Wang Hao Yu, 32, and Guan Siqi, 24 - have been charged at the Sessions Court in Balik Pulau with kidnapping a Singaporean man in July, according to prosecutors. The accused were accused of demanding a ransom of SGD1 million (approximately RM3.28 million) from their victim, Quek Aik Teng, who was abducted at Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas on July 26 at 4:15 PM.

The charge stems from a joint abduction and wrongful confinement under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961 and Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a potential sentence of 30 to 40 years in prison and caning. The four defendants, along with two others who remain at large and two individuals who have since died, appeared in court and pleaded not guilty.

Their passports are currently under review by Malaysian authorities, and no confirmation has been received yet. The court denied bail for all four defendants, citing the severity of the offense and its public interest. Their lawyers argued that bail should be granted with certain conditions, such as surrendering their passports, reporting to the nearest police station, and refraining from interfering with prosecution witnesses.

However, the judge dismissed all bail applications and set October 15 for the next court appearance.