Everything About the JB Kidnap Case Whereby a Wife Allegedly Kidnapped Her Own Husband for S$6 Million Ransom

A woman in Johor Babru allegedly kidnapped her own husband, asking for about S$6 million in ransom.

Here’s what happened.

Everything About the JB Kidnapping Case Whereby a Woman Kidnapped Her Own Husband for S$6 Million Ransom

A 57-year-old housewife, Chan Wan Kooi, was charged in Johor Bahru’s Sessions Court for allegedly conspiring with a group of accomplices to kidnap her 59-year-old husband, a well-known developer, in an elaborate ransom scheme.

The group demanded RM30 million initially, later reducing it to RM20 million (about S$6 million), of which police have since recovered RM7 million.

The couple had just celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary just months earlier in August.

According to court details, Chan reportedly conspired with Chong Shih Ming, 46, and two Vietnamese nationals, Luong Van Tung, 39, and Tran Van Chung, 29, to kidnap her husband.

The incident took place around 5am on 13 October outside the victim’s home near Jalan Straits View in Johor Bahru.

As the victim prepared to leave for the airport, three masked individuals attacked him with wooden sticks and brandished a firearm, forcing him into a vehicle.

After the assault, the kidnappers left behind a mobile phone to contact the victim’s wife.

By noon, the victim had been released after relatives and friends paid part of the demanded ransom.

The incident was reported to police later that evening, leading to a major investigation and subsequent arrests.

Authorities detained a total of 14 suspects in connection to the plot, including ten Malaysians and four foreign nationals.

Among those arrested were three women, Chan among them, who had been detained twice for questioning before being formally charged on 10 November.

Appearing before Judge Hazeelia Muhammad, Chan nodded as her charge was read in Mandarin.

She did not enter a plea, as her case is under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Her lawyer argued for bail, citing Chan’s health conditions, including heart disease, her commitment to her family, and willingness to surrender her passport to authorities.

Despite these arguments, the court denied her bail, setting the case for mention on 17 November.

What Happened to the Other Kidnappers

Separately, several others have faced charges in connection to the case, notably for the disposal of evidence.

On 4 November, Chong (the person who allegedly worked with Chan), alongside the two Vietnamese men, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges.

Additionally, Vietnamese national Nguyen Ngoc Ngan, 36, faced charges in the Magistrate’s Court for allegedly disposing of a vehicle tied to the crime.

Reports indicate she disposed of a Japanese sedan at Taman Johor Jaya on 24 October to protect Chong from legal repercussions.

In a related incident, two men, Tan Kuan Wei, 43, and Siow Book Pin, 38, were charged at the Kota Tinggi Magistrate’s Court for allegedly discarding critical items linked to the kidnapping. This included a firearm, ammunition, handcuffs, and keys, which were reportedly disposed of at Farm Vacay in Kota Tinggi on 26 October.

Both men have pleaded not guilty.