T Previin, 23, who was with Nhaveen, revealed this in his testimony in the 18-year-old’s murder trial today.
Previin said the abduction took place after he and Nhaveen were beaten up by the roadside in Bukit Gelugor on the night of the incident five years ago.
He said after he and Nhaveen were battered by the four accused, while “about 14 others” in motorcycles watched them, a man by the name of Paravind showed up.
Paravind, better known as “Belang”, had earlier appeared to have offered to let Nhaveen ride pillion on his motorcycle after the skirmish.
Belang also warned that if they did not get out of there, they “might be killed”.
Previin, who was within shouting distance, asked Nhaveen to ride with him on his bike instead, but Belang insisted on dropping him “back at his home”.
Previin said he doubted Belang’s intentions. Previin then rode his motorcycle to his home along Jalan Bunga Raya, some 100m away, with Belang and Nhaveen trailing at the back.
However, when Previin arrived at his home, Belang did not stop, despite Nhaveen’s protests.
As he whizzed past, Belang shouted at Previin to “come to Padang Openg”, a football field nearby.
“I had stopped in front of my house at that time, thinking Belang would drop Nhaveen off at my place. But, instead, he rode off.
“Belang had abducted Nhaveen,” Previin said.
Previin said he then rushed to the field, where the earlier group of 14 men and the four accused had gathered.
At this point, the Tamil language interpreter paused and approached judicial commissioner Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid.
Radzi then told the court that the interpreter had to leave due to a family emergency. He apologised and adjourned the case for the rest of the day.
He asked if the prosecution could call other witnesses who could testify in Bahasa Malaysia next week as no other Tamil interpreter was available then.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Amril Johari said the other witness being called would also need a Tamil interpreter.
Radzi said the court would reconvene on Monday, regardless of what happens.
J Ragesuthan, 18, S Gokulan, 18, and two others are charged with the murder of Nhaveen on June 19, 2017. The other two were juveniles when they were charged.
They are accused of murdering Nhaveen near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre, Jalan Kaki Bukit, Gelugor, between 11pm and midnight. They are being detained at the Sungai Petani Juvenile Prison.
Also appearing for the prosecution were Noor Azura Zulkiflee and Yazid Mustaqim Roslan, while Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Maanveer Singh Dhillon and Yagoo Subramaniam represented the accused.
Sukhindarpal Singh held a watching brief for the Bar Council, and Mardhiyyah Johari appeared for the Human Rights Commission. Rajesh Nagarajan and Arun Ganesh Boopalan held a watching brief for Nhaveen’s family.