Man jailed for role in 'kidnapping' plot to extort woman's ex-lover

After the relationship between a married man and his kept mistress soured, the woman concocted a plan to extort money from the man.

She recruited another man to pretend to be a loanshark and to tell her former lover that he had kidnapped her while demanding money from the victim.

At the State Courts on Thursday (28 March), Muhammad Zainal Abdul Zailani was sentenced to two years’ jail and three strokes of the cane for his role in the scheme.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of extortion in common intention with 27-year-old Siti Nur Aisha Abdullah Rahman, who masterminded the plot. Another count of committing extortion by threatening to expose the victim’s affair was taken into consideration for his sentencing.

The victim, a 38-year-old Singaporean, cannot be named to protect his identity. Aisha was previously charged with two counts of extortion but has yet to be dealt with by the courts.

Mistress given monthly allowance

The man met Aisha in November 2014. They became lovers the next month even though Aisha knew he was married and had children. He also gave Aisha a monthly allowance of between $1,000 to $1,500.

Sometime in December 2016, the relationship soured but Aisha kept in contact with the man as she needed the financial support. From then till April 2017, the man acceded to Aisha’s requests for money. He also gave her a monthly allowance of several hundred dollars.

In February 2017, Aisha transferred some money to Zainal – whom she knew from before – to help the latter with his debts. Grateful to Aisha for the help, Zainal began meeting her more often.

According to the prosecution, Zainal and Aisha began a romantic relationship although this was denied by the defence.

‘Kidnapping’ plot hatched

On 2 May 2017, the victim asked Aisha to meet him at the Westgate shopping mall in Jurong East, but she did not want to do so. She then suggested to Zainal that he impersonate an unlicensed moneylender to call the victim and to tell him that she was in his custody.

Aisha also suggested that Zainal demand money from the victim in exchange for her “release”. Zainal agreed to the plan.

At about 7.30pm, Zainal called the victim and claimed that he had taken Aisha hostage over her debts. He threatened to harass the man and his family, claiming that he knew the man’s personal details, including his wife’s name, his workplace and residential address.

Zainal demanded $8,500 by that evening. When the victim asked to speak to Aisha, Zainal passed the phone to her and she pretended to be frantic in order to convince the victim of her abduction.

The victim transferred $8,500 to Aisha’s bank account that day. She then gave Zainal about $500 and went on to spend the rest of it. No restitution has been made to the victim.

Police ambush

On 20 May that year, Zainal and Aisha attempted to extort the victim again – with Zainal threatening to reveal the victim’s affair. This time, Zainal asked for $10,000. The victim made a police report the following day.

Police officers then arranged an ambush. In order to catch Zainal, the man arranged to meet Aisha at Jurong East Mall. When Aisha visited the mall at about 6.35pm to meet the man, she was arrested by plainclothes police officers. Zainal was apprehended shortly thereafter.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Suhas Malhotra asked the court for two years and three months’ jail for Zainal, along with three strokes of the cane.

He noted that Zainal had previously been jailed a year over a snatch-theft offence.

Zainal’s deception also resulted in the man delivering a large sum of money to Aisha. Malhotra added that Zainal’s role in the scheme was critical as Aisha needed someone who was a stranger to the man to act as a loanshark.

Sukhmir Singh, Zainal’s lawyer, argued that his client had been a mere follower in the plot masterminded by Aisha.

Singh added that his client had not been in a romantic relationship with Aisha, unlike what the prosecution claimed.

“Although Aisha did suggest a relationship, Zainal valued his marriage and just wanted to make friends with her,” said the lawyer.

The $500 that Aisha handed to Zainal, a Grab driver, was a loan that had been requested by the latter, said Singh, who sought a sentence of two years’ jail and two strokes of the cane.

Zainal has a chequered past with the law, including drug offences, disorderly behaviour and being a member of a secret society.

In sentencing Zainal, District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan noted that the accused’s previous snatch theft offence was dated.

“While I accept that you are only a follower in relation to Aisha, your role is not a passive one, your role is instrumental as highlighted by the DPP,” said the judge.

Extortion carries a minimum jail term of two years, which can be extended up to seven years and can include caning.

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