JOHOR BARU: A Chinese national studying in Singapore has pleaded not guilty in the magistrate's court to kidnapping a 15-year-old girl last month.
The accused, Huang Xiaonan, 22, entered the plea after the charge was read in Mandarin before magistrate R. Salini.
According to the charge sheet, Huang is accused of abducting the girl, also a Chinese national, at a hotel along Jalan Station on the evening of Nov 24.
The charge was framed under Section 365 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a fine upon conviction.
Huang's lawyer, Goh Poh Gek, requested bail, saying his client cooperated with the authorities during investigations.
Goh also said Huang's passport would be surrendered to the court and that he had relatives in Skudai willing to act as guarantors.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Ameerah Allaudeen opposed bail, citing the severity of the offence.
She also said Huang was a flight risk as he was a foreigner with no significant ties to Malaysia.
"There is a risk that the accused may flee the country, compromising the continuation of the case," she said.
The court denied Huang bail and set Jan 27 for further mention to allow for the submission of case documents.