Singapore trio charged over Penang kidnapping
Victims allegedly beaten up and bundled into car
A man and two women who were allegedly involved in an elaborate kidnapping case that took place in Penang earlier this week were charged in court yesterday.
Judy Wee Aye Fong, 52, Fong Ling Ling, 45, and Benjamin Ling Jialiang, 25, are each accused of attempting to extort US$250,000 (S$350,000) from Ms Crystal Lim between Monday and Wednesday.
The trio had allegedly threatened to harm brothers Kenneth and Gabriel Ng, who had travelled to Penang on a business trip on Sunday. The brothers were allegedly beaten up and bundled into a car.
Ms Lim is engaged to one of the brothers.
At the State Courts yesterday, Ling and Wee, who are Singaporeans, and Fong, a Singaporean permanent resident, were each charged with one count of attempted extortion.
Court papers showed that Wee was already under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act supervision orders when she committed the alleged offence.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it worked with its Malaysian counterparts after a call for assistance was received on Monday.
RAID
On Wednesday, Malaysian police raided a hotel in Penang and arrested four Malaysians and rescued the two victims.
At the same time, the SPF nabbed four people here - three women and a man - believed to be connected to the case.
No ransom money was paid and the victims are assisting the Malaysian police.
After their appearance in court, Wee, Fong and Ling were remanded at Central Police Division and are expected to be back in court on March 4.
Investigations into the role played by the remaining suspect here is ongoing, police said.
If found guilty, Ling and Fong could face between two and five years' jail.
Wee, if convicted, could face up to two times the maximum sentence.
Ling could also be caned.
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