The Kidnapping Act 1961 (Malay: Akta Penculikan 1961), is an Act of the Parliament of Malaysia. It was enacted to provide for the detection and punishment of the offences of abduction, wrongful restraint and wrongful confinement for ransom and other related offences and for matters incidental thereto.

Kidnapping Act 1961
Parliament of Malaysia
  • An Act to provide for the detection and punishment of the offences of abduction, wrongful restraint and wrongful confinement for ransom and other related offences and for matters incidental thereto.
CitationAct 365
Territorial extentThroughout Malaysia
Passed byDewan Rakyat
Passed9 August 1961
Enacted1961 (Act No. 41 of 1961) & 1963 (Act No. 5 of 1963)
Revised: 1989 (Act 365 w.e.f. 13 April 1989)
Passed byDewan Negara
Passed26 June 1961
Effective[Peninsular Malaysia—21 September 1961;
Sabah and Sarawak—24 February 1989, P.U. (A) 56/1989;
Federal Territory of Labuan—24 February 1989, P.U. (A) 55/1989.]
Legislative history
First chamber: Dewan Rakyat
Bill titleKidnapping Bill 1961
Introduced byLeong Yew Koh, Minister of Justice
First reading8 August 1961
Second reading8 August 1961
Third reading9 August 1961
Second chamber: Dewan Negara
Bill titleKidnapping Bill 1961
Member(s) in chargeLeong Yew Koh, Minister of Justice
First reading[ ]
Second reading26 June 1961
Third reading26 June 1961
Amended by
Kidnapping (Amendment) Act 1967 [Act 33/1967]
Titles of Office Ordinance 1949 [P.U. (B) 324/1970]
Bank Simpanan Nasional Act 1974 [Act 146]
Modification of Laws (Kidnapping Act) (Extension to the States of Sabah and Sarawak) Order 1989 [P.U. (A) 56/1989]
Kidnapping (Amendment) Act 1995 [Act A910]
Status: In force

Structure

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The Kidnapping Act 1961, in its current form (1 January 2006), consists of 16 sections and no schedule (including 5 amendments), without separate Part.

  • Section 1: Short title and application
  • Section 2: Interpretation
  • Section 3: Abduction, wrongful restraint or wrongful confinement for ransom
  • Section 4: Seizure and forfeiture of conveyance
  • Section 5: Knowingly receiving ransom
  • Section 6: Knowingly negotiating to obtain, or for payment of, ransom
  • Section 7: Power to freeze bank account
  • Section 8: Public Prosecutor’s power to order inspection of books, accounts, receipts, vouchers or other documents
  • Section 9: Public Prosecutor’s powers to obtain information
  • Section 10: Duty to give information to police
  • Section 11: Power to intercept communication
  • Section 12: Remand in custody of police
  • Section 13: Evidence of accomplice
  • Section 14: Evidence of pecuniary resources or property
  • Section 15: Protection of informers
  • Section 16: Admission of statements in evidence

Section 3

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Section 3(1) created a capital offence with a discretionary death penalty. The death penalty for this offence was abolished by sections 52 and 53 of the Abolition of Mandatory Death Penalty Act 2023.[1]

Lee Ah Kiew was sentenced to death, under this section, in 1985,[2] and was executed on 21 May 1987. He was said to have been first to be so executed.[3]

The following cases were decided under this section:

  • Soh Ten Seng & Ors v Public Prosecutor[4]
  • Bernhard Foon & Ors v Public Prosecutor[5]
  • Kidnapping charge for the four accused in the 2008 murder of Lai Ying Xin

References

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  • Hamid Ibrahim and Nasser Hamid. Hamid's Criminal Procedure. Denning's Books Centre. 1994. pp 27 & 592. Google
  • Hashim bin Mehat. Malaysian Law & Islamic Law on Sentencing. International Law Book Services. 1991. pp xxiv, 6, 104, 221 & 276. Google
  1. ^ Scan on Wikimedia Commons.
  2. ^ "Man sentenced to hang for kidnapping", The Straits Times, 4 June 1985, p 9. Cf. "Re-trial for two under sentence of death", The Straits Times, 29 September 1969, p 9.
  3. ^ "Man hanged for kidnapping businessman", The Straits Times, 23 May 1987, p 8.
  4. ^ Soh Ten Seng & Ors v Public Prosecutor (1964) 30 The Malayan Law Journal 380, FC
  5. ^ Bernhard Foon & Ors v Public Prosecutor [1968] 2 The Malayan Law Journal 117, FC
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