Bryce Hollis allegedly organised kidnapping of man to recover debt from reported theft of 86kg of coke

A bodybuilder accused of arranging the kidnapping of a man, detained for almost 20 hours with two of his fingers and a toe severed, has been granted bail on a whopping $500,000 surety.

Bryce Hollis was granted bail at the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A bodybuilder accused of arranging the kidnapping of a man, detained for almost 20 hours with two of his fingers and a toe severed, has been granted bail on a whopping $500,000 surety.

Bryce Justin Hollis appeared via video link at NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday where he was represented by barrister Ben Barrack and high-profile lawyer Ahmed Dib.

He is yet to plead to charges of take or detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, knowingly or recklessly direct criminal group contributes to occurrence of criminal activity and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

Police allege Hollis, who a court heard was listed as a ‘visionary master’ of a construction business, was “directing offending of an organised criminal group”.

Court documents state Hollis’ co-accused’s allegedly hired a Toyota van on February 16, 2023 and met up with further men to prepare for the abduction of a 31-year-old man.

They allegedly organised to pay him $55,000 for a luxury car, however, police say it was a “trick” to kidnap him and recover a debt from a “reported theft of 86kg of cocaine”.

Bryce Hollis was granted bail after his mother put forward a $500,000 surety on Tuesday.

Police allege the kidnapping was “arranged [by Hollis] earlier in the day”.

“Hollis met with [two co-accused’s] and instructed them on assembling a group to commit the offence,” police allege in court documents.

He allegedly used the handle ‘Criminal Warfare’ on the encrypted application ‘Threema’ to communicate instructions and co-ordinate the kidnapping.

The man was allegedly abducted in North St Marys where there were men armed with pistols and he was assaulted before being “bound with duct tape” and taken to a property near Marulan.

Police allege the man was detained for almost 20 hours and told he was going to be killed.

Demands were also allegedly made in reference to the stolen cocaine and both of the man’s little fingers and a little toe were severed with boltcutters.

The man was also allegedly stripped naked and filmed.

He was taken to hospital after his alleged release on February 17.

Two of the co-accused’s allegedly collected $120,000 from Hollis.

During the bail application on Tuesday the prosecutor submitted Hollis was allegedly present when he told one of the co-accused’s he was given permission to proceed with the kidnapping.

Mr Barrick argued the prosecution case against his client wasn’t strong and relied “heavily” on a witness who he said “appeared to be centrally involved” and “may be motivated” to earn a lesser sentence.

He said Hollis had made “no direct admissions” during five months of telephone intercepts.

Mr Barrick said Hollis’ mother was willing to put up a $500,000 surety and he would abide by strict bail conditions, including curfew, and reporting.

Despite the prosecution opposing bail, Justice Julia Lonergan accepted there would be significant delay before a potential trial date and questioned the case’s present strength.

She did say, however, Hollis appeared to have “some criminal associations”, but ultimately granted “very strict” bail.