Kuching teen admits staging fake kidnapping to extort RM18,000 from mum

Court — DayakDaily.com file pic. // Photo: Pixabay

By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, July 3: A 19-year-old woman pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here today to attempting to extort RM18,000 from her mother after falsely claiming she had been kidnapped.

The unemployed teenager admitted to the charge before Sessions Court Judge Iris Awen Jon, who postponed sentencing until Aug 4 to allow a social report to be prepared.

The court heard that the offence took place at about 3.20pm on June 18 at a residence in Taman Perniagaan Setia, Johor Bahru. The accused had allegedly created a false kidnapping scenario that left her mother fearing for her safety and believing her daughter would be killed unless a ransom of RM18,000 was paid.

Police investigations revealed that the accused had sent WhatsApp messages to her mother using the profile of a man to make it appear that she had been abducted. The messages demanded payment in exchange for her release.

Alarmed by the messages, the victim lodged a police report. However, investigators later established that no kidnapping had occurred and that the entire incident had been orchestrated by the accused herself.

The teenager was charged under Section 387 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and may also include whipping upon conviction.

In pleading for leniency, the accused, who was not represented by counsel and had no previous criminal record, appealed for a non-custodial sentence. She told the court that she had resorted to the scheme because she needed money to purchase something for her mother.

Judge Iris dismissed the explanation, reminding the accused of the sacrifices her mother had made in raising and caring for her.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid requested that the court obtain a social report in view of the accused’s age as a youthful offender. She also urged the court to deny bail pending sentencing.

The court ordered the accused to remain in remand until the next mention of the case.

The prosecution was led by Adriana Maisarah Mohd Farid, while the case was investigated by Inspector Awang Iswandi Awang Mahmuddin. — DayakDaily