Two jobless women accused of abducting a three-year-old boy in a Hong Kong shopping centre for a ransom of US$660,000 in cryptocurrency have been remanded in custody following a brief court hearing.

The suspects, Xue Shanshan and Leung Lai-wa, both 38, were escorted to Eastern Court on Saturday to face a joint charge of kidnapping arising from the July 3 saga in Tseung Kwan O.

Prosecutors alleged the two women, who both claimed to be unemployed, snatched the boy at Tseung Kwan O Plaza against his will “with intent to procure a ransom or benefit for his liberation”.

The indictment shows Xue arrived in the city with a mainland Chinese two-way entry permit, while Leung holds a Hong Kong identity card.

The two women claimed they lived together at a flat at The Wings private housing complex in Tseung Kwan O, where the boy was believed to have been detained.

The pair said they understood the charge through a Mandarin interpreter.

Xue did not apply for bail, whereas Leung’s request for temporary release was refused by Principal Magistrate Don So Man-lung.

The case will be heard again at Kwun Tong Court in September, pending further police inquiries.

Police earlier revealed the boy was abducted while he was playing with his elder sister outside a shop in the centre at 4.30pm on July 3.

The Post learned that a ransom note handed over to the sister told the family to pay 660,000 Tether digital coins, worth more than HK$5.1 million, while warning them not to call the police.

Officers of the organised crime and triad bureau rescued the boy from the flat at about 5.25am on Thursday, around 12 hours after the abduction, and arrested the two women the same morning.

In Hong Kong, abduction is punishable by up to life in prison.