Man on murder rap faces new abduction charge

Chia Kee Chen in a car outside the Subordinate Courts on Jan 2, 2014. Chia, who is facing a murder charge of killing a raw materials planner in Choa Chu Kang last December, had another charge slapped on him on Thursday - conspiring with two others to
Chia Kee Chen in a car outside the Subordinate Courts on Jan 2, 2014. Chia, who is facing a murder charge of killing a raw materials planner in Choa Chu Kang last December, had another charge slapped on him on Thursday - conspiring with two others to abduct the victim at a multi-storey carpark. -- PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

SINGAPORE - A man who is facing a murder charge of killing a raw materials planner in Choa Chu Kang last December had another charge slapped on him on Thursday - conspiring with two others to abduct the victim at a multi-storey carpark.

Chia Kee Chen, 54, is alleged to have plotted with Chua Leong Aik, 65, and Djatmiko Febri Irwansyah to abduct Mr Dexmon Chua Yizhi by using force to compel the 37-year-old to enter a commercial vehicle in the multi-storey carpark at Block 429A Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4.

The alleged offence took place between 10.52pm on Dec 28 and 3.17pm on Dec 29 last year.

Chia and Chua have since been charged with causing the death of Mr Chua at the same carpark. The Indonesian national, in his late 20s, is at large.

Mr Dexmon Chua's body was found on New Year's Day with his hands bound and his T-shirt pulled up his neck at a military training area near Sungei Gedong Camp. It was hidden in thick, tall grass next to a gravel-covered dirt track about 150m from the road.

He was last seen wearing a dark blue T-shirt and grey shorts at an eatery along Cheong Chin Nam Road in Upper Bukit Timah on Dec 28.

Chia's case will be mentioned on Jan 13 while Chua will be back in court on Tuesday.

The punishment for murder is death or life imprisonment.

The maximum penalty for abduction is seven years' jail, fine and caning.

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