A federal magistrate set ball Tuesday of 250,000 and 150,000, respectively, for two of five people charged with kidnapping a Hurley woman who is still missing. Police said there was no word Tuesday on the condition or location of Yim Ling Eng, 43, wife of William Eng, owner of the Kingston Tea Garden restaurant. She was taken by force from her Hurley home a week ago Sunday. The five suspects in the case, all former cooks at the restaurant, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Ralph Smith. All had been held In the Ulster County Jail without ball on state charges of kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and grand larceny by extortion. Smith set bail at (250.000 for Leong Hoong - Slew, also known as Simon Leong. 27, of 726 Broadway. Kingston, and 3150,000 for Chan Lok - Hong, 28, of 298 Wall St., Kingston. They were charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap. The maximum sentence is life In prison. Ball on Leong was set high because his alleged Involvement in the case was greater than the others, according to Special Agent Joseph Skriat of the FBI bureau In Albany. Smith postponed setting ball on the three others until their attorneys could review the charges and make motions regarding ball. They are Hee Cheng, 24, Plan Chun Yong, 20, and Plan Nam Yong. 24. all of 291 Wall St. The FBI and state police are following Information from several sources that Mrs. Eng may be in New Jersey, possibly In a wetlands area, Skrzat said. Skriat said the chances of Mrs. Eng being found alive have "diminished greatly." There has been no further communication with others involved in the conspiracy who have not yet been arrested, he said, adding, "There's no indication as to her fate." Mrs. Eng, an officer in the restaurant corporation, was abducted at the Eng's Hurley home a week ago Sunday. The kidnappers demanded a 8300,000 ransom from Eng, but he was only able to deliver 3150.000. Just 11,200 of the ransom has been recovered. Skrzat said the FBI is investigating why the kidnappers did not release Mrs. Eng when the partial payment was delivered.
