Accused skate park kidnapper walks free on bail

The man accused of kidnapping a 10-year-old boy from a skate park in Woodridge, south of Brisbane, has been granted bail at the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

Last month Tauvela Soe, 27, along with two other people, allegedly forced the boy into the back seat of an SUV after becoming enraged when a child threw a rock into his windscreen.

The confrontation involving the child’s parents and Soe was captured on CCTV.Credit: Nine News

CCTV footage showed the moment the child’s parents confronted the group, including Soe. Fifteen minutes later, police arrested them on a nearby street, charging all three with kidnapping and assault.

In granting bail on Monday, Justice Peter Davis imposed strict conditions, meaning the accused could not contact any witnesses or alleged victims.

Prosecutors told the court Soe was a significant risk of reoffending, claiming that while being led away by police, he turned to a child in the same group as the 10-year-old, allegedly saying, “I’ll come back for you.”

Soe walked free from the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on Monday.

Speaking outside court, his lawyer Troy Smith said he was pleased with the outcome.

“He’s very much looking forward to being returned to his family,” Smith said.

“It’s my firm belief this should have been the outcome the first time around.”

The alleged victim, who could not be identified for legal reasons, spoke out for the first time on Monday.

“[Soe] grabbed me by the jumper, and then they put me into the car, and they took me to the shops,” he told Nine News.

“I can’t fall asleep at night, go to my friend’s [house], [I] don’t really go out any more.”

Soe’s partner Tala also spoke outside court.

“The whole situation is very misunderstood, and just the light of how it’s been portrayed is blown out of proportion,” she said.