Ex-Kelantan footballer, accomplice claim trial to abduction charge

 Che Hishamuddin Hassan, 51, and Saufi Ariffin, 24, face a jail term of up to seven years if found guilty.

The two men were charged in the sessions court in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, with abducting a man by force with the intent to secretly and wrongfully confine him. (Facebook pic)

PASIR MAS:

 A former Kelantan football player and his friend pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here today to a charge of abducting and confining a man last year.

Che Hishamuddin Hassan, 51, and Saufi Ariffin, 24, were jointly charged with abducting Marzuki Mustapha, 45, by force with the intent to secretly and wrongfully confine him.

The offence was allegedly committed in Kampung Palekbang, Tumpat, at about 7.20am on May 20 last year.

Both accused were charged under Section 365 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, which provides for a jail term of up to seven years and a fine.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Siti Aiysha Na’ilah Harizan. Che Hishamuddin was represented by lawyer Heather Marie Anthony, while Saufi was unrepresented.

Earlier, Siti Aiysha proposed bail at RM20,000 for each accused, citing the seriousness of the case. However, Anthony requested that the court impose a minimum bail.

Judge Zulkpli Abdullah subsequently set bail at RM12,000 for each accused and fixed May 18 for case mention. - FMT