T Shasitaran, 32, M Ashogan, 33, Mohamad Sultan Ahmad Kabil, 37, Ong San Chia, 31, and Yeoh Shyh Ming, 27, were charged under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961 for wrongful confinement for ransom.
The charge carries a death penalty upon conviction.
They were accused of committing the offence in Jalan Rumbia, outside the victim’s Crystal Gardens Apartment between 10.30am and 10.45am on Sept 28.
No pleas were recorded and magistrate Mohamad Amin Shahul Hamid fixed Dec 14 for mention.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Fatin Hussin prosecuted while Mathan Anandaram appeared for Ong and Yeoh.
In the Sept 28 incident, the victim was dragged into a van as he was about to make his way to a foreign exchange outlet at the Bukit Jambul complex, not far from his home.
The victim was then taken to the rented apartment where he was held captive, and asked to contact his family for ransom.
Police managed to track down one of the kidnappers after the family lodged a report. The others were picked up after the man was questioned.
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