KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has issued a warrant of arrest against one of eight individuals who were charged with kidnapping a Palestinian man for information on hacking mobile phone software.
Justice Mohd Arief Emran Arifin issued the warrant against Muhammad Iqmal Abdul Rahis, 31, after he failed to appear in proceedings here on Friday (Oct 2).
Earlier, the judge had questioned Muhammad Iqmal's bailor about his whereabouts.
The unnamed bailor told the court that efforts to locate him at a palm oil plantation proved futile, leading to a police report lodged on his disappearance.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zailin Nadia Zubir added that the police had failed to locate the accused since Sept 11.
"The police had gone to Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat and interviewed his father, who said Muhammad Iqmal has not been home to his village since January.
"The police are still searching for him," she said.
Following the development, Justice Mohd Arief Emran forfeited the RM50,000 bail that was granted to the accused.
Apart from Muhammad Iqmal, seven other individuals involved are Tengku Arif Bongsu Tengku Hamid, 45, Mohamad Naziree Mustapha, 45, Faizull Hardey Mohd Isa, 47, Mohd Zaidi Mohd Zain, 60, Nidarahayu Zainal, 40, Raibafie Amdan, 45, and Edy Ko'im Said, 46.
The hearing of the case began on July 7 last year. Eight witnesses have testified.
The trial resumes on Oct 12.
According to the charge sheets, all eight accused allegedly, with common intention, kidnapped the 31-year-old victim for confidential information on how to make and deactivate computer software to hack mobile phones.
The offence was allegedly committed at Jalan Mayang at 10.40pm on Sept 28, 2022.
The charge under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961 carries imprisonment between 30 and 40 years maximum and whipping if convicted.
Meanwhile, Tengku Arif Bongsu and a married couple, Nidarahayu and Raibafie, also face 19 money laundering charges involving more than RM250,000.
On July 10 last year, six men: Mohamad Norakmal Hassan, 46, Mohd Azwan Jamaludin, 42, Dody Junaidi, 47, Mohamad Sufian Saly, 28, Tengku Hazarul Ismail Tengku Hamid, 54, and Muhammad Al Hatim Mohd Fauzi, 28, were jailed for five years after pleading guilty to an alternative charge of abducting and wrongfully confining the victim.
