Chinese Student Fined for Faking Kidnapping to Get Ransom

Chinese Student Fined for Orchestrating Fake Kidnapping to Extort Ransom

A Chinese university student has been fined RM17,000 by the Sessions Court for faking a kidnapping in an attempt to extort a RM2.9 million ransom from his friend's mother.

Zhang Runbao, 23, a student at a university in Singapore, was sentenced by Judge Azrul Darus after pleading guilty to an amended charge during a case mention on Tuesday (May 27). If he fails to pay the fine, Zhang will serve six months in prison.

The charge states that Zhang deceived Cheng Zhiwen—mother of his friend, Ye Yingxi—by faking a kidnapping. A video of Ye, bound, partially unclothed, gagged, and apparently assaulted, was used to pressure Cheng into transferring five million yuan (RM2.9 million) to a Chinese bank account.

The incident occurred at a hotel on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman between 11:44 AM and 9:15 PM on May 2. The offence falls under Section 417 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Syafina Radzuan urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, emphasising the widespread impact of the hoax and the resources wasted by law enforcement and the judiciary.

Zhang's lawyer, Ernie Sulastri Ahmad, appealed for leniency, highlighting her client's guilty plea and his intention to complete his studies by June next year.

Regarding Ye Yingxi, the second accused, lawyer Ramesh Sivakumar sought a full discharge and acquittal, noting that Cheng had retracted her police report. However, the court granted Ye a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, following the prosecution's request.

Source:https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/05/27/chinese-student-fined-for-fake-kidnapping-scam