4 Singaporeans arrested for alleged involvement in abduction of Sporean brothers

[EdmondHonda]

4 Singaporeans arrested for alleged involvement in abduction of Singaporean brothers in Penang

The four Singaporeans, aged between 26 and 54, were allegedly involved in the kidnapping of two Singaporean brothers.

[video=youtube;FwPAv36W_BU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwPAv36W_BU[/video]

Published 6 hours ago
Chew Hui Min

SINGAPORE -Three women and a man were arrested on Thursday (Feb 25) in a case of extortion, police said.

The four Singaporeans, aged between 26 and 54, were allegedly involved in the kidnapping of two Singaporean brothers.

One of the kidnapped men's fiance received a call from an unknown Malaysian mobile phone number demanding a ransom of US$250,000 (S$350,000) for the release of her fiance, a 28-year-old Singaporean man.

A police report was filed on Monday night (Feb 22).

Preliminary investigations found that her fiance and his 27-year-old brother had travelled to Penang for a business trip on Sunday (Feb21).

The Singapore Police Force worked with the Royal Malaysia Police to locate the victims and the possible suspects.

They subsequently established the suspects' identities, and the location where the two Singaporean victims were believed to be held against their will.

On Wednesday (Feb 24), Malaysian police officers raided a hotel in Penang.

Four Malaysian men were arrested during the operation and the two victims were rescued unharmed.

In a coordinated strike on the same day, officers from Singapore's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested four Singaporean suspects in connection to the case.

No ransom money was delivered, police said.

If convicted of putting a person in fear of harm in order to commit extortion with common intention, the four Singaporean suspects can be jailed up to five years, and caned.

Investigation against one remaining female suspect is still ongoing.

The victim's family alerted the police without delay and cooperated fully with the authorities, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) and CID director Tan Chye Hee.

"This had enabled the Police to take swift investigative actions from the onset, resulting in the successful solving of the case," he said.

He also thanked the Malaysian police.

"I would also like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Royal Malaysia Police for their unequivocal support in the joint cross border investigation of the kidnapping for ransom case. Undoubtedly, the close cooperation between SPF and RMP was instrumental in the swift arrest of the suspects, resulting in the safe release of the Singapore victims."

 

[Kenshi]

Kidnapping in Penang: Three charged with extortion

(From left) Benjamin Ling Jialiang, Fong Ling Ling and Judy Wee Aye Fong, three of four suspects arrested in Singapore on Wednesday, were yesterday charged in court with trying to extort US$250,000 from Ms Crystal Lim Chew Kwan by threatening to cause harm to her fiance and his brother. Police are still investigating the fourth suspect.ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

Published 4 hours ago
Elena Chong
Court Correspondent

Three people were charged in court yesterday with trying to extort US$250,000 (S$350,200) from a woman in connection with the alleged kidnap of her fiance and his brother in Penang.

Singaporeans Benjamin Ling Jialiang, 25, and Judy Wee Aye Fong, 52, and Singapore permanent resident Fong Ling Ling, 45, are alleged to have tried to extort the sum from Ms Crystal Lim Chew Kwan between Monday and Wednesday.

They allegedly put Ms Lim in fear by threatening to cause harm to the brothers, Mr Ng Chee How and Mr Gabriel Ng Chia How, in the event that the money was not delivered.

The prosecution successfully applied for the trio to be remanded at Central Police Division for further investigation. They will be back in court next Friday.

Only Ling was represented.

The victims are still in Malaysia assisting the police in their investigations, the court heard.

In a statement on Thursday, the police said they were informed on Monday of a case involving a 29-year-old woman who was contacted via an unknown Malaysian mobile phone number, demanding a ransom of US$250,000 for the release of her 28-year-old fiance.

Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Police Intelligence Department responded immediately and found that the two brothers, aged 28 and 27, had travelled to Penang for a business trip on Sunday.

Officers from the Singapore Police Force coordinated their efforts with the Royal Malaysia Police to establish the victims' whereabouts and find possible suspects.

On Wednesday, the Malaysian police raided a hotel in Penang and arrested four Malaysian men. The two victims were rescued unharmed.

Over in Singapore, CID officers arrested four suspects in connection with the case. No ransom was delivered. A 54-year-old female suspect who has not been charged is still being investigated.

The maximum punishment for the offence is five years in jail and caning.

 

[Lockdown]

Kidnapping in Penang: Trio charged with extortion to be remanded for two more weeks

Judy Wee Aye Fong (right), Fong Ling Ling (in red) and Benjamin Ling Jialiang are each accused of attempting to extort US$250,000 (S$350,000) from Ms Crystal Lim.PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER

Published 10 hours ago
Amir Hussain

SINGAPORE - Three people who allegedly tried to extort US$250,000 (S$345,456) in connection with the alleged kidnap of two Singaporean brothers in Penang were on Friday (March 4) remanded for another two weeks.

Singaporeans Benjamin Ling Jialiang, 25, and Judy Wee Aye Fong, 52, and Singapore permanent resident Fong Ling Ling, 45, were charged last week with a count each of extortion, an offence punishable with up to five years' jail and caning.

Wee now faces four extortion charges. Ling has two of the charges, while Fong faces one count.

They will be taken back to court on March 18.

According to court documents, on Feb 22, some time between 4.58pm and 6.54pm, Wee allegedly tried to extort the amount from Mr Anthony Ng Moi Keng.

She allegedly put Mr Ng in fear by threatening to harm the brothers, Mr Ng Chee How and Mr Gabriel Ng Chia How, if the money was not delivered.

The next day, between 5.14pm and 5.23pm, she allegedly repeated the offence, together with Ling.

Later that day, between 7.14pm and 7.26pm, she allegedly tried to extort the same amount from Crystal Lim Chew Kwan, together with Ling and Fong, by threatening to harm the brothers, if the money was not delivered. Ms Lim is engaged to one of them.

And between 9.15pm and 9.25pm that same day, Wee allegedly repeated the offence, together with Fong.

The trio were brought back to court from Central Police Division, where they had been held to help in investigations.

Wee and Fong were not represented. Ling's lawyer is Mr Josephus Tan.

In a statement last Thursday (Feb 25), the police said they were told on Monday that week of a case involving a 29-year-old woman who was contacted via an unknown Malaysian mobile phone number, demanding a ransom of US$250,000 for the release of her 28-year-old fiance.

Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Police Intelligence Department responded and found that the two brothers, aged 28 and 27, had travelled to Penang for a business trip on Sunday.

Singapore police coordinated their efforts with their Malaysian counterparts to establish the victims' whereabouts and find possible suspects.

The Malaysian police raided a hotel in Penang and arrested four Malaysian men on Wednesday. The two victims were rescued unharmed.

In Singapore, CID officers arrested four suspects in connection with the case. No ransom was delivered. A 54-year-old female suspect who has not been charged is still being investigated.