A 22-year-old student from unnamed university Of Singapore, pleaded not guilty on Thursday (Dec 5) in the Magistrate’s Court to charges of kidnapping a teenage girl last month.
The accused appeared before Johor Bahru Magistrate R. Salini, entering his plea after the charge was read to him in Mandarin. Huang, currently studying in Singapore, is charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old girl with the intent to confine her in secret.
The 22-year-old Huang Xiaonan (transliteration), is Originally from Dongguan City, Guangdong, China according to the local news reports.
The incident allegedly took place on November 24 at a hotel located on Jalan Station at approximately 4:08 PM.
In a court hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Amira opposed bail for the defendant, citing the seriousness of the crime and the defendant’s status as a Chinese citizen without local family ties.
The defense attorney, Wu Baoyu, argued for leniency, highlighting the defendant’s cooperation with police and willingness to surrender his passport and comply with additional bail conditions.
However, after considering both sides, presiding magistrate Shalini denied the bail request and scheduled the case for an adjournment on January 27 for the submission of a report.
He faces a serious charge under Section 365 of the Penal Code, which pertains to kidnapping or abduction.
If convicted, Huang could face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a potential fine.
The case gained significant attention following the successful rescue of the teenage girl by Johor police.
On November 27, police chief M. Kumar reported that the victim was found within 24 hours of her abduction, which had initially taken place in Singapore before she was transported across the border to Kuantan, Pahang.
The girl’s father, also a Chinese national, had filed a report after she failed to attend school, expressing concerns that his daughter had been abducted.
Investigations revealed that the girl left Singapore voluntarily and without a companion before the missing person report was filed.
Image via orientaldaily
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