A hairstylist has been sentenced to death for the kidnap and murder of teenager Lai Ying Xin...

Hairstylist gets death for kidnap and murder of teen girl
By M. MAGESWARI
mages@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A hairstylist has been sentenced to death for the kidnap and murder of teenager Lai Ying Xin, whose body was burnt and dumped at a remote area in Kulai more than two years ago.

His two underage friends were ordered to be detained in a prison at the pleasure of the Johor Sultan for kidnapping and murdering their schoolmate.

Hairstylist Teh Kim Hong, 25, who knew Ying Xin, did not show any emotion when the verdict was delivered in a packed courtroom yesterday.

Ying Xin's mother Chia Siew Phen said she was pleased with the verdict.

Johor Baru High Court judge Justice Mohd Zawawi Salleh said the three accused did not show any mercy towards the victim.

“Although ransom was paid, the victim was brutally murdered.

“After she was killed, the victim's body was burnt and dumped in a remote area,” he said.

Justice Mohd Zawawi said the court took into account the torment suffered by Ying Xin and her family.

Ying Xin, 16, was kidnapped in front of a hypermarket in Jalan Kulai-Air Hitam, Johor, at 9.45pm on Sept 11, 2008. Teh and his two friends had wanted to get a ransom of RM60,000 from her family.

The three were charged with murdering Ying Xin in Jalan Alor Bukit Kulai between 9.45pm on Sept 11, 2008 and midnight the next day.

Justice Mohd Zawawi ordered the remaining RM22,800 ransom money, recovered during their arrest, to be returned to the victim's mother.

Ying Xin scored 7As in her PMR in 2007 and was described by friends as a good person.