RAUB: Three South Koreans were brought to the Sessions Court here on Friday (May 8) on charges of kidnapping a man in Genting Highlands on April 17.
However, the charges against the trio, aged between 28 and 40, were not read out as they did not understand Malay or English.
Pahang State Prosecution Director Shahrizat Ismail and deputy public prosecutor Fathin Nadhirah Kasim requested the court to set a new date for the re-mention of the case, in addition to not allowing all the accused to be granted bail.
Judge Noor Zaihan Mohamad Ali set May 18 for the re-mention of the case to allow a Korean interpreter to appear in court and did not allow bail for the three accused.
Sharizat said all the accused are facing charges under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961 which provides for a minimum prison sentence of 30 years or a maximum of 40 years and whipping, if convicted.
On April 24, it was reported that the police had busted a group of kidnappers led by a South Korean national and had frozen cryptocurrency worth US$2.46mil (about RM11.5mil), believed to be part of the ransom money.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar reportedly said the special operation was carried out after police rescued a South Korean man who was kidnapped while on his way down from Genting Highlands on April 17.
Checks revealed that two suspects had entered Malaysia in March using valid social visit passes until June, while the third had no record of entry.
In a further development, Comm Kumar said joint investigations with the South Korean Embassy revealed that the victim is a wanted individual in his home country.
The victim's passport has been revoked and an Interpol Red Notice has been issued against him for suspected involvement in illegal gambling activities and organised crime.
He added that the man is believed to have been in Malaysia since 2016 and had been moving between several locations during that period. — Bernama
