TWO Chinese nationals were found guilty of Kidnapping for Ransom by the Regional Trial Court of Paranaque City.
Accused Zhihua Liu and Yuqiong Zhu were arrested by operatives of NBI-Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) on December 13, 2020 at Nuwa Hotel, City of Dreams, Paranaque City, after a friend of the victim, Zheng Xibing, reported the abduction of the latter.
Liu and Zhu were presented for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice for violation of Article 267 of the revised Penal Code (Kidnapping for Ransom).
The prosecution was able to establish the existence of all the elements of Kidnapping for Ransom, as the accused conspired, and willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously kidnapped Zheng Xibing and detained him inside a room at Nuwa Hotel, City of Dreams, Paranaque City for the purpose of ransom in the amount of RMB 136,000.00 equivalent to P1 million.
On December 2, 2022, the RTC, Branch 295, Paranaque City rendered judgment finding the two accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Kidnapping for Ransom and were sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment without eligibility for parole.
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