KUCHING: The Sessions Court here today (Aug 5) fixed Aug 12 for a 19-year-old lady, who allegedly attempted to extort RM18,000 from his mother by staging his own kidnapping, to engage a lawyer.
Judge Noorhisham Mohd Jaafar issued the order after the accused changed her plea from guilty to not guilty.
It was understood that the court is awaiting the social report for the accused when she decided to changed her plea.
She previously pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 387 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and is also liable to whipping upon conviction.
According to the charge, the offence took place at about 3.20 pm on June 18 at a house in Taman Perniagaan Setia, Johor Bahru, where the accused allegedly put her biological mother in fear of death unless RM18,000 was paid as ransom.
It was understood that the accused is believed to have fabricated a kidnapping scenario by sending WhatsApp messages using a male profile, claiming she had been abducted and demanding ransom from her mother, who subsequently lodged a police report.
Investigations later revealed that the alleged kidnapping was staged by the accused herself.
In previous mitigation, the unemployed first-time offender pleaded for a non-custodial sentence, telling the court she had committed the act because she needed money to buy something for her mother.
Judge Iris Awen Jon at the time however questioned her actions and reminded her of her mother’s sacrifices in raising her.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid appeared for the prosecution.
