Thi Kim Tran Bankstown murder: Police investigating links to Victorian group involved in large-scale drug production, ransom demands
Police are investigating ransom demands and whether a Bankstown mother, who was brutally kidnapped and murdered, was attacked because of her partner’s possible links to a Victorian organised crime group.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A gang of men who kidnapped a Sydney mother tried to get her associates to pay a ransom in the hour before she was killed, police sources say.
As a naked Thi Kim Tran was held between 10.30pm and 11.30pm last Thursday, threats were sent by masked kidnappers about what would happen to her if they were not paid.
Police sources said it was unknown whether the ransom requests were ever received by the intended recipients.
Ultimately, Ms Tran, 45, was killed and her body dumped in the kidnappers’ getaway car and burnt.
The Daily Telegraph can exclusively reveal the ransom demands following revelations earlier on Tuesday that police are investigating whether Ms Tran and her eight-year-old son, who was left for dead, were attacked because of her partner’s links to a large-scale Victorian organised crime group.
NSW Police homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi told a press conference police suspected the violent attack was sparked by a “conflict” between Ms Tran’s partner and “upper echelons” of a Victorian-based organised crime group involved in the large-scale manufacture of methamphetamine.
Det Supt Doueihi said the man was known to police for minor drug-related offences and had been working for the organised crime group for “several months” before the attack.
He was now assisting investigators, Det Supt Doueihi said, and has not been charged with any wrongdoing in relation to Ms Tran’s death.
“I can indicate that the organised crime group, their workforce consists of mainly Vietnamese males,” the senior detective said at the Sydney press conference.
“However, there is no information or evidence to suggest that the upper echelons of these organised crime groups are linked to southeast Asian organised crime groups.”
Following joint interstate investigations, Victorian police raided a rural property in Springdallah which is suspected of being used as a drug lab.
Det Supt Doueihi said while Ms Tran’s partner was known to police, the Bankstown mother had no previous criminal history and likely had no knowledge or involvement in any criminal activity.
“The level of violence against innocent family members of organised crime groups is rare and unprecedented,” he said.
“These offences are clearly targeted offences. They’re callous, they’re brutal and they’re offences against innocent people. This woman and her children were in no means involved or had knowledge of what their partner or their father was up to.”
Det Supt Doueihi said Ms Tran’s eight-year-old son, who was placed in an induced coma, would likely experience lifelong complications because of his injuries while his 15-year-old brother continues to suffer psychological trauma from the incident.
“These organised crime groups are breaking their own code of conduct by targeting innocent children and it’s something that the NSW Police Force will not tolerate,” Det Supt Doueihi said.
He issued a warning for those involved in organised crime groups.
“This crime is a clear demonstration of the organised crime groups disregard to life, even hardened criminals within these organised crime groups,’’ he said.
“If you have a fallout with people you work for, you could place your families and friends at significant risk if things don’t work OK.”
Police are continuing to appeal for information from any members of the public who may have any personal knowledge regarding the victims or who may have witnessed the incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
More Coverage
Originally published as Thi Kim Tran Bankstown murder: Police investigating links to Victorian group involved in large-scale drug production, ransom demands
Miracle recovery for boy bashed by kidnappers
An eight-year-old boy, beaten over the head with a baseball bat by the same attackers who kidnapped and killed a Bankstown woman, has made a miracle recovery from what were first thought to be life-altering injuries.
Read more
Dodgy election guides trying to dupe voters into supporting Labor, Greens
An investigation has uncovered two popular vote compasses being pitched to Australians online and outside polling booths that have dodgy methodology skewed to left-leaning parties.
Read more