Lam Chang Nam was charged under Section 385 of the Penal Code for allegedly blackmailing Koh’s son, Jonathan, with a promise to secure the pastor’s freedom.

He was said to have committed the offence at Paradigm Mall here on March 3.

If convicted, the 30-year-old will face a maximum jail term of seven years or fine or whipping, or any two of the punishments.

Magistrate Azali Ibrahim did not grant bail to Lam, who is also said to be a part-time Uber driver.

The court fixed the next mention date on April 26.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Ilyani Mohd Tamam appeared for the prosecution while Lam was represented by Raj Preet Kaur.

He was arrested by police last Thursday in Ampang to facilitate investigations into the kidnapping of Pastor Koh, who was abducted on Feb 13 in Kelana Jaya.

Meanwhile, Selangor CID chief Fadzil Ahmat said police investigations had proven that Lam had nothing to do with Koh’s kidnapping.

“He was taking advantage of the incident by blackmailing them,” he said in a statement released yesterday.

Koh, 62, was abducted by a group of masked men on Jalan SS4B/10, less than 100 metres from the Police Housing Complex in Kelana Jaya on Feb 13. He was driving a silver Honda Accord bearing the licence plate ST 5515 D.

He was on his way to a friend’s house in Kelana Jaya when he was abducted in what CCTV footage has shown to be a well-executed plan involving more than 10 men and seven vehicles in broad daylight.

His family is offering a reward of RM100,000 for information on his whereabouts.