The accused – R Narindran, 30; M Areveen Raj, 28; R Jayruban, 25; and Syafiq Segnar Abdullah, 29 – pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them before magistrate Siti Nurul Suhaila Baharin, Berita Harian reported.

The four men, together with another suspect who is still at large, are accused of abducting the 41-year-old Indonesian woman at Jalan Kelawai in the northeast district of Penang island.

They allegedly held the woman at a unit in the Palma Laguna Water Park Condominium, Jalan Baru, Perai, from 8pm on Dec 5 until 11.45am on Dec 7.

The charge was framed under Section 365 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34 of the same code, for kidnapping or abducting with the intent of secretly and wrongfully confining a person, which provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Atikah Asharaf Ali handled the prosecution while the accused were represented by lawyer K Mahendran.

The court set bail at RM8,000 with one surety for each of the accused and ordered them not to tamper with the victim or witnesses.

The court also ordered the accused to report monthly to their nearest police station until the case is completed.

It fixed Jan 21 for case re-mention and the submission of documents.