SINGAPORE — Armed with stun guns, they waited for their fellow countryman at the Pasir Ris car park, where he was about to work the night shift.

They then tried to overpower him from behind and tasered him, but fled after he shouted at passers-by for help.

Myanmar nationals Zaw Min Hlaing, 40, and Phyo Min Naing, 34, were convicted on Monday (April 16) of attempting to kidnap Mr Aye Maung Maung Thet, 29, on June 21, 2015.

The duo, who had pleaded guilty after a three-day trial in August 2016, had been hired by Burmese businessman Aung Aung to kidnap Mr Aye, a Singapore permanent resident (PR). Aung suspected Mr Aye of having an affair with his wife, Sandi.

The Singapore PR, also known as Win Kyaw Kyaw Aung, also hatched a plot to kill Mr Aye. He has since fled Singapore. The police are still seeking his arrest.

On Tuesday (April 17), Zaw was sentenced to four years and three-and-a-half months’ jail, while Phyo was sentenced to four years and three months’ jail.

Zaw was also fined S$4,000 and disqualified from driving for 12 months, while Phyo was fined S$6,000. If they are unable to pay their fines, they will serve an additional two and three months’ jail term respectively.

A third accomplice, 33-year-old fellow Myanmar national Yae Wynnt Oaung, was jailed for six weeks in December 2015 for 20 driving-related offences. He was Aung’s assistant based in Singapore.

On Monday and Tuesday, the court heard that Zaw, who worked and lived in Singapore, knew Aung for about a decade and was also acquainted with his wife, Sandi. Phyo, who was based in Myanmar, knew Aung for more than 14 years as their families were close in Myanmar, and he had also worked for a company owned by Aung’s younger brother.

In 2014, Aung confided in Zaw that Sandi was having an affair with Mr Aye in Singapore. He asked Zaw to tail the pair in a rental car, and provided him with GPS trackers for his wife’s and Mr Aye’s cars. Zaw did so and updated Aung on the pair’s locations.

Then in May 2015, Aung told Zaw to head to the airport to pick up Phyo and another Myanmar national. Aung paid for the pair’s accommodation and expenses in Singapore, and Zaw took them to where Mr Aye lived to monitor his movements. The pair did so for about three to four days, from 10pm to 11pm daily.

In that same month, Aung told Zaw to rent a unit near where Mr Aye lived to facilitate the monitoring. Zaw secured the lease of a bedroom in a block adjacent to Mr Aye’s for S$900 a month.

The following month, a day before the botched abduction, Zaw and Aung booked a bungalow at the Aloha Changi chalet for three days from June 21 to 23. They also met up with Yae, bought a variety of items, and readied their stun devices to use on Mr Aye.

After the kidnapping, Aung had instructed the trio to take Mr Aye to the chalet, where he intended to interrogate Mr Aye on the affair, before killing him and disposing of his body.

The next day, Zaw, Phyo and Yae parked their rental van beside Mr Aye’s car at the multi-storey car park, and waited till nightfall for him to turn up.

When Mr Aye unlocked his car using the remote control, Zaw and Phyo grabbed him from behind and began pushing him towards their van. Mr Aye struggled and shouted for help. Phyo used his taser on him, but was unable to subdue him.

They continued struggling for a few minutes till Mr Aye saw some passers-by and shouted at them. Phyo and Zaw then fled in the van, and Mr Aye called the police.

Mr Aye sustained abrasions on his cheek and bruises on his limbs, and was given one day of medical leave.

Zaw later drove Aung to the airport, where the latter left for Yangon. Before leaving, Aung instructed Zaw to return the rented vehicles, and for Phyo and Yae to clear out the chalet.

Zaw was arrested the next day when the rental company called him to arrange to return the van. He then led the police to the Aloha Changi chalet, where Pyo and Yaw were arrested.

The police also seized items such as a meat mincer, a chainsaw, kitchen knives, cable ties, a cleaver, and plastic sheets.

Zaw pleaded guilty to attempted abduction, possessing a foldable knife with a 4cm blade, having control of a stun gun, and permitting Yae to drive on two occasions without a driving licence or insurance coverage

Phyo admitted to three charges of attempted abduction, having control of a stun gun and pepper spray.

The prosecution sought a sentence of five years and three months’ imprisonment for Zaw, and five years and six months’ imprisonment for Phyo.

Deputy Public Prosecutor John Lu pointed to several aggravating factors, such as the “clear extensive premeditation and planning of the crime”. “This is one of the worst cases that could apply to the charge of attempted abduction,” he added.

Meanwhile, the defence asked for a maximum of three and a half years each for Phyo and Zaw. In mitigation, Phyo’s lawyer, Mr S Radakrishnan, said that Phyo felt “aggrieved” for Aung when he heard about the supposed extramarital affair and felt obligated to help him out, as adultery is a criminal offence and considered sacrilegious in Myanmar.

Mr R S Bajwa, who was acting for Zaw, said that his client’s “mistaken sense of loyalty and commitment to a friend” had led him to eventually participate in the attempted abduction.