Six Charged Over Alleged Kidnapping and Robbery of Singaporean Couple in Johor Bahru

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Six local individuals have been charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping, confinement, robbery and assault of a Singaporean couple in Johor earlier this month. The cases were brought before the Sessions Court and Magistrates’ Courts in Johor Bahru on Friday.

The accused were identified as M Balamurugam, 46; K Saravanan, 40; P Sri Devi, 41; G Puganeswaran, 38; S Gobinath, 38; and X Adwin Nicholas, 41. All six pleaded not guilty after the main charges were read before Sessions Court Judge Nor Aziati Jaafar.

According to the charge, the six allegedly acted together in kidnapping Singaporean Al-Shameer B Abdul Nassar with the intention of demanding S$20,000, or about RM63,000, in ransom.

The alleged kidnapping took place in front of a church at No. 22, Jalan Orkid, Skudai, at about 2pm on Aug 8.

They were charged under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. If convicted, the offence carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and whipping.

Deputy Public Prosecutor R Nevina did not initially offer bail, citing the seriousness and non-bailable nature of the alleged offence.

However, the court later allowed each of the six accused bail of RM50,000 with two sureties.

The court also imposed additional conditions requiring them not to interfere with the alleged victims or prosecution witnesses, to report to a nearby police station once a month and to surrender their passports to the court if they have one.

In a separate proceeding before Sessions Court Judge Madihah Zainol, Balamurugam, Saravanan and Gobinath pleaded not guilty to a gang robbery charge involving a gold necklace and a Rolex watch belonging to the same male victim.

The alleged robbery occurred inside a vehicle in the Johor Bahru Utara area at about 2pm on Aug 8.

The charge was framed under Section 395 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.

The court allowed each of the three accused bail of RM9,000 for the robbery charge.

All six accused were also brought before Magistrate A Shaarmini over a separate charge involving Singaporean woman Zaylen Zayraelle Xie Manting.

They pleaded not guilty to allegedly abducting her with the intention of secretly and wrongfully confining her.

The alleged offence occurred at Block C-03-06, Skudai Villa Apartments, Jalan Aman, Taman Skudai Baru, and several other locations between Aug 8 and Aug 11.

The charge was filed under Section 365 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a maximum prison term of seven years and a fine upon conviction.

The court granted bail of RM10,000 with two sureties, while Sri Devi, Gobinath and Saravanan were ordered to surrender their passports.

In a separate proceeding, Saravanan and Puganeswaran pleaded guilty to injuring Al-Shameer Abdul Nassar with a knife.

The assault was said to have occurred at Skudai Villa Apartments between 10am and 1pm on Aug 11.

Magistrate Nurzihan Abdul Rehman imposed a RM3,000 fine on each man, with six months’ imprisonment in default of payment.

The offence was prosecuted under Section 324 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34. The provision allows for imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine, whipping, or a combination of the prescribed penalties.

The courts fixed Sept 23, 2026 for the next mention of the cases.

The kidnapping, confinement and robbery allegations remain before the courts, and the accused are legally presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case has drawn attention because it involves Singaporean nationals and multiple allegations spanning several locations in Johor Bahru over a period of several days.