Ride-sharing driver charged with extorting RM30k from son of missing pastor (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: A part-time driver was charged with extorting RM30,000 from Jonathan Koh Szu Hao, the son of the missing Pastor Raymond Koh, at a Magistrate's court, today.
Lam Chang Nam, 31, claimed trial to the charge of extorting the amount from Jonathan, 33, for the purpose of releasing his father.
He is alleged to have committed the offence at Paradigm Mall, Jalan SS7/26, Kelana Jaya at about 9.46pm on March 6, 2017.
Magistrate Mohd Azali Ibrahim who did not grant bail to the accused, fixed the case to be mentioned on April 26, 2017.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Ilyani Mohd Tamam said the accused should not be given bail, although the case is non-bailable to avoid tampering of the witnesses.
"The extortion amount is RM30,000 and it is a case of public interest," she said.
Lawyer Datin Raj Preet Kaur, who represented Lam appealed for a bail to be granted to the accused, saying that the court has the discretion to grant bail.
She said the accused is the only son and his mother is a single mother.
Raj Preet said additional bail conditions can be imposed such as the accused reporting to the nearest police station or submitting passport to the court.
"There is no reason for the accused to abscond, in this case," she said, adding that the accused mother can be the bailor and his cousin's sister co-bailor if needed.
Koh has been reported missing since Feb 13, 2017 after he was abducted in Petaling Jaya . A video clip allegedly showing the abduction went viral, recently.