Drug trafficker Catrina Hong Luu’s family allegedly tortured, accused makes bail application

A female relative of a convicted drug trafficker was allegedly kidnapped from her home by a masked group of men for the pincode to a safe.

Police at Forest Lake where a woman was allegedly assaulted. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A female relative of a convicted drug trafficker was allegedly kidnapped from her home by a masked group of men and threatened with knives and guns for the pincode to a safe containing $35,000.

New details have emerged surrounding a “terrifying” home invasion and kidnapping involving a member of drug trafficker Catrina Hong Luu’s family, as one of the alleged offenders made an application for bail.

Luu’s female relative was at her Doolandella home on February 9 last year when a group of masked men allegedly arrived in a stolen Audi and forced their way inside.

Brisbane Magistrates Court heard at a bail application for one of the accused on Thursday how the men allegedly zip-tied the woman and threatened her with knives and guns for the pincode to a safe.

The prosecution alleged 22-year-old Liec Alapayo Manyang was one of four men who then drove the woman to her parent’s house in Forest Lake where the safe was held.

The court heard at Manyang’s bail application that the men had left the woman at the Forest Lake home - which it’s understood belonged to Catrina Luu - after it became clear the woman didn’t know the code.

A drug trafficker’s family member was allegedly tortured. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Catrina Luu was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in 2018 for charges including drug trafficking. It’s not suggested she was involved in any wrongdoing relating to the home invasion.

Crown prosecutor Miranda Hickey told the court the men allegedly took the safe from inside the home and drove to Pallara, where they then moved it into a BMW.

Ms Hickey said the safe was then driven to an address in Stafford - where police later located two shortened shotguns and two of Manyang’s co-accused.

The court heard Manyang had been arrested some weeks later while in possession of a balaclava and allegedly breaching his curfew while on bail for a charge of drink driving.

It’s further alleged Manyang had been found in possession of a handgun just weeks prior to the home invasion during a wanding operation in the CBD - in which he allegedly ran from police.

The court heard the evidence tying Manyang to the home invasion was “circumstantial” and included his fingerprints allegedly being found on the safe and on the outside of the BMW.

He had also allegedly been part of a group chat with other co-accused, in which plans for “the job” had been discussed.

Defence lawyer Jarrod Bell emphasised that Manyang did not participate in any discussion about “the job,” and argued the evidence against his client was lacking.

He said Manyang had already served about 13 months in presentence custody and was in danger of spending too much time if he were found not guilty of the home invasion-related allegations.

Mr Bell submitted any risks his client posed could be mitigated by strict bail conditions including an ankle monitor, curfew, and residential curfew requiring him to live with his family - who attended his bail application in support.

A drug trafficker’s family member was allegedly tortured. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Magistrate Julian Noud expressed concern about Manyang’s “frightful” history, nothing his involvement in the armed group assault of a man at a soccer tournament in 2020.

Ms Hickey said the offence had been a “retributive attack” connected to the Zillmere murder earlier that year - which 10 men have recently been found guilty of.

It’s not suggested Manyang had any connection to the murder itself.

The court heard Manyang had been sentenced to three years for assault occasioning bodily harm, and had since received other jail terms for other violent offences in the Magistrates court.

Ms Hickey said Manyang had repeatedly committed very serious offences while on curfew and was too great a risk of committing further offences to grant bail.

Mr Noud said the home invasion allegations were “terrifying” and could carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

He said the case against Manyang was circumstantial but that the combination of evidence led “some force” to the allegations.

He refused Manyang’s bail and remanded him in custody for the matter’s next mention on April 4.

Manyang is charged with offences including torture, kidnapping, extortion, robbery with actual violence while armed/in company, assault occasioning bodily harm, possessing shortnered firearms, dangerous conduct with a weapon, and unlawful use of motor vehicles.