Three men pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today to a charge of kidnapping a Dutch boy, Nayati Shamelin Mood Liar, 12, in April last year.

Self-employed Chong Tat Siong, 24, and his two friends, mobile phone salesperson Foong Khar Fai, 20, and unemployed Lee Phak Seng, 24, made the plea before Justice Kamardin Hashim.

Kamardin set two weeks, from April 15 to 19, and May 13 to 17, to hear the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Jean Sharmila Jesudeson told the court that 15 prosecution and defence witnesses would be called to testify.

The three men were first brought before the Magistrate’s Court on May 22, last year to face the charge, but not plea was recorded.

The trio, with another still at large, were charged with kidnapping the boy at Jalan Kiara 1, Mont Kiara, at 7.30am on April 27.

Nayati was freed by his kidnappers at the Plus Highway Sungai Buloh rest area at 7.55am on May 3, last year, a week after being kidnapped in front of the Mont Kiara International School, in Kuala Lumpur.

Chong was represented by counsel Rejinder Singh, while Foong and Lee were represented by lawyers Zamri Ibrahim and KT Wong, respectively.

- Bernama