GEORGE TOWN: Five men charged with kidnapping and holding captive a money changer in an attempt to obtain a RM3mil ransom have to enter their defence.

       T. Shasitaran, 38; M. Ashokan, 39; Mohd Sultan Ahmad Kabir, 43; Ong San Chia, 37; and Yeoh Shyh Ming, 33, were in 2016 jointly charged with wrongfully confining the 60-year-old man for five days.

       They were accused of committing the offence between 10.30am to 10.45am on Sept 28 at the roadside of Jalan Rumbia near Krystal Garden in Bayan Lepas.

       High Court judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir said the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against all five accused after considering all the evidence brought forward in court.

       “I will hear the defence on another date that will be set soon,” he said at the High Court here in George Town on Tuesday (March 1).

       The non-bailable offence under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961 (Act 365), was read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty.

       K. Tangesvaran represented Shasitaran, Anthony Chew represented Ashokan, R. Dev Chander represented Mohd Sultan while S. Ravichandran and Benjamin Tan represented both Ong and Yeoh.

       Deputy Public Prosecutor Muna Mohamed Jaafar prosecuted.