PUTRAJAYA: The life imprisonment sentence imposed on a jobless man who kidnapped three Bangladeshis for ransom nine years ago has been upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Justices Hanipah Farikullah, P. Ravinthran and Nordin Hassan also upheld the High Court order for Suhaimi Alias, 46, to be whipped 10 times.
Suhaimi and two others – Raja Mohd Hafiz Raja Shuib and Myanmar national Nobi Hussein Abutar – were charged with kidnapping the three Bangladeshis – Md Gholam Faruque, Mohamed Rafik and Sojib – for RM50,000 ransom at a mini market in Jalan Meru Klang, Selangor, at 4am on March 16, 2014.
In the court’s judgment dated July 7, Justice Ravinthran dismissed Suhaimi’s appeal against his conviction and sentence and ruled that there was no reason for the Court of Appeal to interfere with the High Court’s decision.
He said there was overwhelming evidence in respect of the common intention of all the accused persons, including Suhaimi, to abduct the victims.
“They had impersonated police officers to bring the victims to a hotel room.
“The victims were blindfolded and confined in the room. This is a criminal act,” he said, Bernama reported.
Raja Mohd Hafiz died during the course of the trial and the charge against him was withdrawn in 2017.
The High Court proceeded with the trial against Suhaimi and Nobi Hussein and convicted them.
Both were sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to be given 10 lashes.
In the 19-page judgment, Justice Ravinthran also said the court found that the 10 lashes were justified based on the facts of the case where Suhaimi and his accomplices had targeted vulnerable persons such as foreign workers.
“They impersonated police officers and abducted them.
“The ransom demanded was a huge sum.
“Two of the victims were badly beaten up as the raiding officer told the court that they were immediately sent to the hospital after being rescued,” Justice Ravinthran said, adding that interference with the sentence of the High Court was not warranted in all the circumstances of the case.
Nobi Hussein’s appeal against his conviction and sentence is fixed for hearing on July 26.
