KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Two men plead not guilty at the Magistrate’s Court today to extortion and wrongful imprisonment of their former co-worker at a nightclub last week.
Businessman Wong Meng Jit, 35, and sales manager Loong Yuen Hong, 33, are jointly charged with extorting Ng Zhou Kang, 30, by inducing fear in the victim until he was compelled to hand over RM658,000 in cash at a room in a nightclub at Kuchai Lama at 9pm, on October 15.
The charges, under Section 385 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, allow for a maximum of seven years jail or fine or caning or any of the two punishments if convicted.
Wong and Loong are also jointly charged with imprisoning Ng at the same place, time, and date under Section 342 of the Penal Code and read together with Section 34 of the same code, which is subject to a year’s jail or a maximum fine of RM2,000 or both if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Zuhairi Osman sought a RM7,000 bail with one surety for both charges for each of the accused, but both defendants’ counsel, Tan Kian Peng, requested a lower bail as they needed to support their families.
Magistrate M S Arunjothy allowed each accused RM5,000 bail, with one surety for both charges and set case mention for November 29.
— Bernama
