SHAH ALAM: Businessman Ho San Cheh received a text message from an unknown number with a threat that his son's arms and legs would be chopped off if he failed to pay a RM500,000 ransom.

The message in Chinese characters read: "Is the money ready? If you want to see your son, get the money ready quick.

"Don't say you don't have money. Everyone in Bentong knows that your family is rich.

"If the money is not enough, your son's arms and legs will be chopped and he will be made a beggar.

"If you make a police report..."
The chilling text message was read out in court yesterday at the trial of Chinese national Su Qiao-mei, 36, who is charged with the kidnap and murder of 6-year-old Ho Ping.

Su was charged with another suspect, Kee Lian Kok, who was married to the boy's sister.

The charges against Kee were dropped following his death by suicide in his cell in Sungai Buloh on May 18.

In the witness box yesterday was Ho Ping's father, who testified he received a text message from a different number shortly after the first one, ordering him to put the money into a bag and wait for a car. The second message also warned him against going to the police.

"I replied that we had the money and insisted that we wanted to hear Ho Ping's voice, but the line went dead," he said during the examination-in-chief by DPP Wan Shahruddin Wan Ladin. "I then went to the police."

Cross-examined by counsel Leslie Bala, San Cheh, who runs vegetable farms in Johor Baru, Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands and Nilai, said he had seen Su and knew that she was Kee's mistress.

"I did not have confidence in him even after his parents brought him to my house to seek forgiveness.

"He stayed with us for a few days but I told all my family members, including my daughter Ho Woon Chen (Kee's wife) and Ho Ping, that Kee should not pick Ho Ping up after school," San Cheh said.

"My other son, Ho Kian Qiao, called me the night Ho Ping went missing to tell me the news.

"I was on the way home from Johor Baru.

"He told me that he suspected it was Kee who took Ho Ping."

Questioned further by Bala, San Cheh said he asked everyone at home about Ho Ping, including the maid Paulina.

"Paulina told me that Ho Ping had been crying and hurriedly had a bath before getting into the car with Kee, who had been waiting outside the house."

San Cheh added that when he called Kee to ask, Kee said he did not know as he was on the way to Jawi, Penang.

"He came back the next morning and followed my family and friends to search for Ho Ping.

"He was present when I lodged the police report (that Ho Ping was missing)."

Hearing will resume on March 3 for two days.