Latest news with #ZhangRunbao
CNA
28-05-2025
- General
- CNA
Fake kidnapping in KL: Foreigner studying in Singapore fined US$4,000 by Malaysian court for cheating
KUALA LUMPUR: A foreigner studying in Singapore has been fined RM17,000 (US$4,000) by a Malaysian court for faking another student's kidnapping in Kuala Lumpur. Zhang Runbao pleaded guilty on Tuesday (May 27) to a charge of cheating. He had deceived Cheng Zhiwen, the mother of Ye Yingxi, 18, by staging a video purportedly showing Ye to be a victim of kidnapping. Ye appeared half-naked in the video with his hands tied, mouth sealed with tape and face drenched with water, according to Malaysian news site Free Malaysia Today (FMT). Zhang claimed that Ye had been choked and stomped on, and demanded that Ye's mother transfer the ransom to a bank account in China. The act took place at a hotel along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur between 11.44am and 9.15pm on May 2, according to FMT. On May 13, Zhang and Ye claimed trial after being jointly charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for allegedly trying to deceive Cheng into paying a 5 million yuan (US$694,000) ransom. They were reportedly charged at the time with cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, with cheating – by way of making a video call to Ye's mother and showing her son in a distressing condition – as an alternative charge. Malaysian media reports on Zhang's sentencing describe him as a friend of Ye but, speaking to CNA on May 14, Ye's lawyer Ramesh Sivakumar maintained that his client did not know Zhang. On Tuesday, Judge Azrul Darus also granted Ye a discharge not amounting to an acquittal after Ye's lawyer informed the court that his client's mother did not want to pursue the case and had retracted her police report. According to Malaysian media reports, Zhang is said to be a National University of Singapore (NUS) student while Ye is believed to be a student at the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM). When contacted for comments, both SIM and NUS told CNA previously they were aware of ongoing legal proceedings but did not confirm whether Zhang and Ye were their students. Before the verdict on Tuesday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Syafina Radzuan urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on Zhang, New Straits Times reported. 'The accused's deceit caused inconvenience to many parties and wasted time and court resources, including police efforts to track him down,' she was quoted as saying. 'The prosecution also requested that the second accused, Ye, be discharged not amounting to an acquittal since Zhang has pleaded guilty,' she added. Ye's lawyer Ramesh Sivakumar had asked the court to discharge and acquit his client, The Star reported. Meanwhile, Zhang's lawyer Ernie Sulastri Ahmad said in mitigation that her client was remorseful and the 10 days he spent in lock-up had served as a lesson. Ernie added that Zhang intends to continue his studies, which are expected to conclude in June next year. If Zhang is unable to pay the fine, he will have to serve six months in prison. His cheating charge under Section 417 of the Penal Code provides for a maximum five-year jail term and fine, upon conviction.
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Chinese student in KL fined for faking abduction video to extort RM2.9m from friend's mum
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — A university student from China was today fined RM17,000 by the Sessions Court here for deceiving his friend's mother by staging a fake kidnapping to extort RM2.9 million in ransom. Judge Azrul Darus imposed the sentence on Zhang Runbao, 23, who is studying in Singapore, after he changed his plea to guilty when the alternative charge was read during the case mention. The court also ordered a six-month jail term in default of payment. According to the alternative charge, Zhang deceived Cheng Zhiwen, the mother of his friend Ye Yingxi, by making a phone call and showing a video of Ye appearing to be abducted. The video showed Ye with a drenched face, hands bound, partially unclothed and mouth taped. The kidnapper also claimed he had been choked and stomped on. The accused then issued threats and demanded that Cheng transfer five million yuan (RM2.9 million) into a bank account in China. The offence was committed at a hotel along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman between 11.44am and 9.15pm on May 2. Zhang was charged under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both. Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Syafina Radzuan urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, noting that the accused had caused significant inconvenience to multiple parties, incurring unnecessary time and resources for the court and police. 'In respect of the second accused (Ye), the prosecution seeks a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, as Zhang has pleaded guilty,' she submitted. Zhang's lawyer, Ernie Sulastri Ahmad, pleaded for a lenient sentence on the basis that he was a first-time offender and had saved judicial time and expense by pleading guilty. 'He intends to resume his studies, which are expected to conclude in June 2026,' she added. Meanwhile, Ye's lawyer Ramesh Sivakumar sought a full discharge and acquittal, informing the court that Cheng no longer wished to pursue the matter and had withdrawn her police report against her son. However, Judge Azrul allowed the prosecution's application and ordered that Ye be discharged, not amounting to an acquittal. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Chinese student fined RM17,000 for staging kidnapping
Ye Yingxi was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal after his lawyer informed the court that his mother, Cheng Zhiwen, did not wish to pursue the case and had retracted her police report. KUALA LUMPUR : A Chinese national, who claimed trial two weeks ago to a charge of attempting to cheat his friend's mother of five million yuan (RM2.9 million) by staging a kidnapping, was fined RM17,000 by the sessions court here after changing his plea to guilty. Judge Azrul Darus handed down the sentence on Zhang Runbao, 23, after he pleaded guilty to an alternative charge read out to him. Zhang, a student, was also ordered to serve six months in prison if he fails to pay the fine. Under the alternative charge, Zhang and his 18-year-old friend, Ye Yingxi, allegedly deceived Ye's mother, Cheng Zhiwen, by staging a video call in which Ye pretended to be a victim of kidnapping. Ye appeared in the video half-naked, with his hands tied, mouth sealed with tape and face drenched with water. Zhang claimed Ye had been choked and stomped on, and demanded that Cheng transfer the ransom into a bank account in China. He was accused of staging the act at a hotel along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman between 11.44am and 9.15pm on May 2. The charge was framed under Section 417 of the Penal Code for cheating, read together with Section 34, which provides for imprisonment of up to five years, a fine or both. In mitigation, Zhang's lawyer Ernie Sulastri Ahmad said her client was remorseful, and that spending 10 days in the lock-up during the remand had served as a lesson to him. Ye was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal after his lawyer Ramesh Sivakumar informed the court that Cheng did not wish to pursue the case and had retracted her police report.
CNA
14-05-2025
- CNA
2 foreign youths studying in Singapore charged in Malaysia with staging fake kidnap involving US$700k ransom demand
SINGAPORE: Two foreign youths studying in Singapore have been charged in Malaysia with staging a fake kidnap in trying to cheat one of their mothers out of almost US$700,000 in ransom. Zhang Runbao, 23, and Ye Yingxi, 18, have claimed trial after being jointly charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court under Section 511 of the Penal Code for allegedly trying to deceive Ye's mother into paying a 5 million yuan (US$693,832) ransom on May 2, according to local news outlet Free Malaysia Today (FMT). FMT described both individuals as Chinese nationals and NUS students, but other media reports have said Ye is a student at Singapore Institute of Management (SIM). CNA has reached out to both SIM and NUS for comment. Ye's lawyer Ramesh Sivakumar told CNA on Wednesday that his client did not know Zhang previously. The incident occurred at a hotel along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, but it is unclear why the duo was in Malaysia. According to FMT, the duo allegedly sent a video and made a call to Ye's mother, 40-year-old Cheng Zhiwen, showing Ye in a staged kidnapping scene where he was seen to be partially undressed, gagged and appearing to be strangled in an effort to demand a ransom. The pair also claimed trial to an alternative charge of making another video call to Chen, showing Ye in the same distressing condition, as part of an effort to intimidate and extort her into transferring the ransom, according to local media platform the New Straits Times. Some media reports said that after receiving the video, the mother had flown to Singapore, and then to Malaysia where she made a police report. If convicted, the duo may face a prison term of one to 10 years and a possible fine. Zheng and Ye also face an alternative charge under Section 417 of the Penal Code for cheating, which carries a maximum jail term of five years or a fine, if convicted. Session Court Judge Azul Darus on Tuesday allowed each of them bail of RM30,000 with two sureties. They were also ordered to surrender their passports. Deputy public prosecutor Noor Syafina Radzuan appeared for the prosecution while Zhang and Ye were represented by lawyers Ernie Sulastri Ahmad and Ramesh respectively. Case management is set for May 27, according to FMT.
Barnama
13-05-2025
- Barnama
Two Foreign Students Plead Not Guilty To Staged Kidnapping For RM2.9 Million Ransom
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- Two students from a Singapore university pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court today to staging a fake kidnapping to trick one of their mothers into paying a RM2.9 million ransom. Zhang Runbao, 23, and Ye Yingxi, 18, both Chinese nationals, were jointly charged with attempting to deceive Ye's mother, Cheng Zhiwen, by making a phone call and sharing a video purporting to show Ye being abducted. In the video, Ye appeared half-naked, with his hands tied, mouth sealed with black duct tape, neck being strangled, body stepped on, and his face splashed with water. They are alleged to have demanded a ransom of five million Yuan (approximately RM2.9 million) to be transferred into a bank account in China. The acts were allegedly staged with the intention of dishonestly inducing Cheng to remit the money. The offence was allegedly committed at a hotel on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman here, between 11.44 am and 9.15 pm on May 2. The charge was framed under Section 420 of the Penal Code, read together with Sections 511 and 34, which provides a jail term of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction. Both men also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge for the same offence under Section 417 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34, which carries a jail term of up to five years, or a fine, or both. Judge Azrul Darus set May 27 for case mention and granted each accused bail of RM30,000 with two sureties. The court also ordered both to surrender their passports until the disposal of the case. Deputy public prosecutor Noor Syafina Radzuan appeared for the prosecution, while the two accused were represented by lawyers Ernie Sulastri Ahmad and Ramesh Sivakumar.
