Four Chinese nationals charged in Malaysia over Singaporean kidnapping

Four Chinese nationals have been charged in Malaysia in connection with the kidnapping of a 72-year-old Singaporean man, Quek Aik Teng. The incident occurred at Penang International Airport on July 26.

The accused—Liu Ting Jun, 46, Huang Jian, 39, Wang Hao Yu, 32, and Guan Siqi, 24—appeared at the Sessions Court in Balik Pulau, Penang, on September 10. They pleaded not guilty to charges of abducting and wrongfully confining the victim. Prosecutors allege that a ransom of S$1 million was demanded for his release.

Eight individuals are named in connection with the case; while four are currently before the court, two remain at large and two have died. If convicted under Malaysia’s Kidnapping Act 1961, the defendants face between 30 and 40 years in prison and caning. The judge rejected bail applications for all four suspects.