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Huang Xiaonan, a 22-year-old Chinese national studying at a Singapore university, has been charged in Malaysia for allegedly kidnapping a 15-year-old girl. The case was heard on Thursday at the Magistrate’s Court in Johor Bahru. Huang is accused of detaining the teenager, also a Chinese national, at a hotel in Jalan Station, Johor Bahru, in the early hours of November 24.
The charges, read in Mandarin, were framed under Section 365 of Malaysia’s Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment and a fine. Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Ameerah Allaudeen opposed bail, citing the accused as a flight risk, given his lack of familial ties in Malaysia and the severity of the case.
Huang’s defense lawyer, Goh Poh Gek, argued for bail, highlighting the accused’s cooperation during the investigation and the presence of a distant relative in Johor willing to act as a guarantor. Goh also assured the court that Huang would surrender his passport and comply with all bail conditions. However, Magistrate R. Salini denied bail after considering the arguments.
The court has scheduled the next mention of the case and submission of documents for January 27, 2025.
The case unfolded after the girl’s father, a 48-year-old Chinese national, reported her missing on November 26. She had failed to attend school in Singapore the day before and was believed to have been abducted. According to police, she entered Malaysia through the Woodlands checkpoint on November 24.
Johor police later located the teenager in Kuantan, Pahang, about 326 km from Johor Bahru, and arrested Huang at the same location. Investigations revealed she was reportedly confined in secret before being rescued.
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