Suhaimi Mat Zin, 41, Wong Guo Song, 33, Yong Zi Hui, 25, Zulkarnain Ramli, 46, and Azam Hatan, 32, nodded after the charge was read out to them before magistrate Wong Chai Sia.

No plea was recorded as the case fell under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

The five men, together with others still at large, were jointly charged with abducting and wrongfully confining Lau Jia Kin, 39, to obtain a ransom amounting to RM1.12 million at Jalan Mesra Ria, Bandar Sri Petaling, here, at 10.30pm on April 29.

The charge was framed under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961, which carries the death sentence or life imprisonment and whipping, if found guilty.

Lawyers Ashraff Diah, Azinuddin Karim, Izzati Yaacop and Tharamjit Singh represented Suhaimi, Wong, Yong and Zulkarnain, respectively, while Azam was unrepresented.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor B Sareeka.

The court set July 17 for mention.