Kidnap for ransom: Three men get life imprisonment, whipping for kidnap of businessman

MALACCA: Three men were today sentenced to life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane each by the High Court here today after they were found guilty for the abduction of a businessman for ransom six years ago.
Judge Datuk Zulkifli Bakar handed down the sentence on Kamaruzaman Mohamed Shah, 40; Sulaiman Abdul Kadir, 37; and Farezzuwan Mohd (RPT: Mohd), 29, after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against them at the end of the defence case.
Trader Kamaruzaman , Sulaiman, who is a shop assistant and factory worker Farezzuwan, with two others still at large, were jointly charged with abducting businessman Tan Tiang See, 46, and wrongfully confining the man for ransom of RM500,000 to be paid by the victim's brother.
Tan was kidnapped at a godown at No 1, Jalan TTC 25, Cheng Industrial Estate, Cheng here, and held in confinement at a house at HJalan Cengal 1, Taman Merdeka, Batu Berendam here at 6 pm on Feb 14, 2011.
The charge was made under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read together with Section 34 of the same law, which provides the death sentence, or imprisonment for life , and shall, if not sentenced to death, also be liable to whipping.
When handing down the sentence, Zulkifli said the factors that the victim was not ill-treated and ransom money was not paid were among reasons the court used its discretion in not imposing the death sentence.
The court viewed seriously the offence and for purpose of prevention and to reflect that the court did not condone such an act, the court meted out the whipping of 10 strokes on each accused, he said.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syaiful Akmal Mohd Razi, while the accused were represented by lawyers Chong Joo Tian, K.A Ramu and Mak Kah Keong.
On Dec 23, 2015, the same court had acquitted the three accused , but following an appeal by the prosecution on January last year, the Court of Appeal set aside their acquittal and remitted the case back to the High Court for the accused to enter their defence.