GEORGE TOWN: A couple was sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court here yesterday, after being found guilty of kidnapping a nine-year-old boy for RM200,000 ransom, three years ago.
Lai Khan Mei, 35, and his female companion from China, Gao Bingju, 25, abducted and wrongfully confined the boy at a house in Taman Gemilang Ria in Bukit Mertajam near here at 5.30pm on Dec 19, 2009.
Judicial Commissioner Mohd Amin Firdaus Abdullah who also ordered Lai to be given 15 strokes of the cane, said the defence failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
Mohd Amin rejected Lai’s testimony that the money found on him when he and Gao were arrested at Genting Highlands, was given to him by friends.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Suhaimi Ibrahim and Shakila Banu Sheik Allaudeen prosecuted while counsel Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail defended the duo who were jointly charged under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code which provides for the death sentence or life imprisonment and caning, upon conviction. — Bernama