SEREMBAN: Five family members, including a married couple, were charged with kidnapping a 16-year-old girl in the Sessions Court on Thursday.
The accused, D Sasveena, 31; T Boharaj, 32; Farhin Muhamad Ariffin, 23; and siblings P K Koshenn Kumar, 21, and P K Siveeshinaa, 23, pleaded not guilty before Judge Datin Surita Budin.
According to the charge, the accused, with a common intention, kidnapped the girl to demand a RM2mil ransom.
The offence occurred in front of a hair salon on Jalan S2 B10, Uptown Avenue Seremban 2, at about 5.45pm on April 10.
All the accused were charged under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
If found guilty, they face a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and whipping.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni did not offer bail, citing the seriousness of the crime and the victim's safety.
She said granting bail could risk the accused interfering with the victim and family, other prosecution witnesses, and possibly fleeing.
Meanwhile, lawyer T Harpal Singh requested a date within two weeks to file a written mitigation appeal for bail.
The court granted the defence's request, setting the case for mention on May 14.
Previously, the media reported that the criminals involved in the kidnapping hid the victim by placing her in a suitcase.
This was to avoid detection by authorities and the public while transferring the victim from the suspect's vehicle to a house where she was hidden.
On April 14, police shot dead a man in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang, Selangor, believed to be involved in the kidnapping.
