KUALA LUMPUR: The trial of alleged kidnappers of a 12-year-old Dutch boy in April has been postponed to August 27, the Deputy Public Prosecutor S. Malini Anne confirmed, adding that she told the court she wanted more time in order to prepare the case against the four men accused of kidnapping Nayati Moodliar. Self-employed Chong Tat Siong, 23, mobile phone seller Foong Khar Fai, 19, and unemployed Lee Phak Seng, 23, had appeared in court on Friday for the trial, before it was postponed until after Ramadan. Chong, Foong, Lee Phak Seng and another still at large were charged with kidnapping the boy and attempting to get a RM300,000 ransom. If found guilty, the men could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Moodliar had been taken while walking to his Mont Kiara International School in an upscale Kuala Lumpur suburb on April 27. He was then discovered by his family in May after kidnappers left him at the pre-arranged rest stop on a highway. Police said a ransom was paid. Bakri Zinin, head of the federal crime investigation department, told local media that police investigating the case had arrested four men and a woman in Kuala Lumpur and northern Malaysia. They have been in custody since under investigation for kidnapping and awaiting trial. Police are still looking for two other Malaysians, one of who is believed to have fled to Europe. Bakri said police would alert Interpol about the man. Police have also recovered some of the ransom paid by the Moodliar family for the boy's release, though Bakri declined to reveal any figures. The kidnapping drew wide attention with even Prime Minister Najib Razak calling via Twitter for the safe release of the boy, who has dual Dutch and South African nationality. The incident has struck fear in some of the international community, and especially the Dutch community, who believe their country's history in the region could have been a direct cause of the nabbing.
