GEORGE TOWN: Four men pleaded not guilty to a charge of abduction and wrongful confinement of an Indonesian woman at a Magistrate's Court here.
R. Narindran, 30; M. Areveen Raj, 28; R. Jayruban, 25; and Mohammad Syafiq Segnar Abdullah, 29; claimed trial to the joint charges read out to them before Magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila Baharin on Friday (Dec 13).
Based on the charge sheet, the four, along with another person who is still at large, are alleged to have forcibly abducted the 41-year-old Indonesian woman with the intent to wrongfully confine her at the Palma Laguna Waterpark Condominium, Jalan Baru, in Seberang Perai.
They allegedly committed the offence along Jalan Kelawai in George Town here between 8pm on Dec 5 and 11.45am on Dec 7.
They were charged under Section 365 of the Penal Code, for kidnapping or abducting a person with the intent to wrongfully confine them read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Atikah Asharaf Ali prosecuted while the accused were represented by lawyer K. Mahendran.
Nurul Atikah did not offer bail and said she would leave it to the court's discretion.
She, however, said strict conditions must be imposed.
In mitigation, Mahendran appealed for bail to be granted to all four of the accused, stating that they would comply with any conditions set by the court.
He said Narindran was a contractor earning RM1,800 per month.
"He is married and has children while Areveen Raj, who is single, works as a lorry driver earning RM2,000.
"Jayruban is also a lorry driver who supports his mother while Mohammad Syafiq works as a contractor and supports his mother and his sick sister's child," he said.
Siti Nurul Suhaila set bail at RM8,000 with one surety for each of them and imposed additional conditions.
"All the accused are prohibited from contacting the victim and witnesses.
"They must report to the nearest police station monthly until the case is resolved.
"If they fail to comply with these conditions, the bail will be revoked," she said.
She then fixed Jan 21, 2025, for the case mention and submission of documents.
