KUALA LUMPUR: The 31-year-old man who claimed trial to extorting the son of missing Pastor Raymond Koh (pic) has now been charged with kidnapping, a development described by his lawyer as "shocking".
Part-time driver Lam Chang Nam was charged under Section 385 of the Penal Code with extorting RM30,000 from 33-year-old Jonathan Koh Szu Hao for the release of his father.
Lam allegedly committed the offence at Paradigm Mall in Kelana Jaya here at 9.46pm on March 6 and was accused under Section 385 of the Penal Code for putting a person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion.
According to Lam's lawyer Aaron Mark Pius, the extortion case was set for trial and the first witness was called and had testified.
However, Pius said he was shocked when Lam was charged under Section 365 of the Penal Code with kidnapping or abducting on Monday (Jan 15).
"Yesterday, Lam was charged with another much serious offence for kidnapping. My client pleaded not guilty to the charge," Pius told The Star.
"We did not see this coming. The position we are taking is that my client denies all the allegations against him," he added.
Pius said bail was granted at RM5,000 and the Petaling Jaya magistrate's court fixed Feb 26 for mention of the case.
When asked if he knew about new evidence that had resulted in the kidnapping charge, Pius said he could not comment on that.
"All I can say is that the extortion charge and the kidnapping charge is related.
"I did not receive any documents from them yet. I should receive the documents on Feb 26," said Pius.
In response to Lam's kidnapping charge, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has "immediately ceased" their public inquiry into the disappearance of Koh at the request of police.
Commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai revealed that Suhakam had received a letter from Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun at 3pm on Monday (Jan 15) informing the
Commission to stop their public inquiry, as there is a pending court case.
The letter informed Suhakam of Lam's new charge.
Mah cited Section 12 (3) of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act that states that the Commission shall "immediately cease" the inquiry if the allegation becomes the subject matter of any proceedings in any court.
Koh's wife Susanna Liew expressed disappointment at Suhakam's announcement.
"I will have to seek advice from my lawyers on how to go forward," she added.
Her lawyer Gurdial Singh Nijar said that police witnesses scheduled to testify on Tuesday (Jan 16) did not show up.
"We don't have the benefit of their take on this turn of events," he added.
Koh, 62, was abducted by a group of men along Jalan SS4B/10 in Petaling Jaya on Feb 13, 2017 while on his way to a friend's house.
CCTV footage, believed to be of the incident, showed at least 15 men and three black SUVs involved in Koh's abduction.
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