KLANG: A 51-year-old textile company director, Aurangzaib, and an 18-year-old youth were charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with armed robbery, abduction and wrongful confinement of a German businessman last year.

The man, a Pakistani, and the youth, who was 17 at the time of the offence, were alleged to have committed the offences against Irfan Ashgar at No C-2-2 Pangsapuri Bukit Kuda in Klang at 9pm on Aug 19 last year.

They were said to have robbed Irfan while armed with a parang and a pistol-like object with three others still at large.

The man was also charged with abducting Irfan with the intention to confine him, while the youth faced a second charge of illegally confining Irfan.

Both claimed trial to all the charges.

In objecting to bail, deputy public prosecutor Roshidah Abu Bakar said the offences were serious and that the accused and the victim were foreigners.

"The alleged incident occurred in August last year but the police only managed to arrest them on Sept 7 this year," she said.

"This shows that they tried to run away from the police."

Roshidah added that the two allegedly assaulted the victim and tied his hands and feet.

"The amount which they allegedly stole was estimated at RM120,000 at that time.

"If the court grants them bail, there is a high possibility they will abscond."

Counsel Sarjeet Singh, who is representing the accused, pleaded with the court to grant bail.

"Refusing bail or granting high bail is like sentencing them," he said.

"The man is married to a Malaysian with two children aged 7 and 5," he said, adding that he has five other children from a previous marriage.

Sarjeet said the man ran a textile business here.

"I do not understand why the police couldn't find him for a year," he said, adding that his client suffered from acute diabetes and a heart ailment.

Judge Aslam Zainuddin denied bail but said another application for bail could be made later.

He fixed May 27 and 28 for trial.