Former politician charged
Five other men also accused of abducting businessman
PETALING JAYA: A former politician was among six men charged at the Magistrate’s Court here with the abduction of a businessman who was later found dead in Rawang.
Datuk K. Ramachandran, a former PKR candidate for the Batang Kali state seat during the 13th General Election, was charged with abetting the others in the alleged crime.
The other five, Azhari Shahrom Shaihmi, 56; Mohd Durai Abdullah, 52; Sheikh Ismail Sheikh Hassan, 26; N. Vickneswarar, 28; and a Bangladeshi, Kasi Nasrul, 42; nodded that they understood the charges that were read separately to them before magistrate Mohamad Ikhwan Mohd Nasir.
All were charged under the Kidnapping Act 1961. They face the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment with whipping, if found guilty.
The men were accused of abducting property developer Datuk Seri R. Arumugam, 55, with the intent to hold him for a S$50mil (RM153mil) ransom.
The offence was allegedly committed at Taman Kejiranan Central Spine, Jalan Margosa, Bandar Sri Damansara, here, at 10.30am on June 10.
No plea was recorded from them and Deputy Public Prosecutor Hakim Amir Abdul Hamid did not offer bail.
The court fixed Aug 27 for mention.
Lawyer R. Sivaraj represented
Ramachandran while lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent held watching brief for the victim’s family.
The other five were not represented.
On June 27, Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Fadzil Ahmat said the body of the businessman was discovered in the bushes of Jalan Rawang Bestari Jaya at about 9am.
The victim’s body was already decomposing when it was discovered.
Investigations revealed that the mastermind behind the kidnapping was known to the victim.