Joel A Batour-Pullin, Nassim Eid refused bail again after alleged $2.4m extortion, kidnapping
More details have come to light in the case of two men accused of being involved in a frightening abduction over a perceived multimillion dollar debt owed to a NSW organised crime syndicate.
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Two Sydney men accused of helping kidnap a man to extort him of $2.4m on the Sunshine Coast will remain behind bars after a second tilt at bail following their arrest.
Despite arguments there was a change in circumstances by the legal team of Merrylands man Nassim Eid and Joel A Batour-Pullin in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday, the men were refused bail again for their alleged roles in the chilling abduction of a man on April 10.
Police allege the 30-year-old men flew to the tourist destination using false names and played their own roles in a botched attempt to retrieve a multimillion-dollar debt owed by the man to a NSW organised crime syndicate. The court heard this was related to a new gambling application.
It was further alleged both men were found with the victim and his girlfriend by police at a unit in Maroochydore after they were taken from their home by a group of men.
During their previous bail application last month, police allege threats were made to the man about retrieving the funds. It is not alleged Eid or Batour-Pullin made these remarks.
After being arrested at the scene, the pair were charged with deprivation of liberty and extortion with the aggravating factor of serious organised crime.
Batour-Pullin faces an additional charge of contravening an order to open his phone. Both were refused bail on April 16 and have been on remand ever since.
High profile solicitor Ahmed Dib flew into the Sunshine Coast again from interstate on Thursday morning and put to magistrate Chris Callaghan the men could apply for bail again due to a change in circumstances, a requirement for a new release application to be heard.
Mr Dib claimed the credibility of the alleged victim, who he alleged was a conman who raised investments for the gambling application from parties across Australia, was at issue.
The lawyer tendered exhibits to the court which purported to be text messages between the alleged victim, an unknown person, an unrelated lawyer, and other texts between the alleged victim’s girlfriend and her friend.
Mr Callaghan said it was alleged the victim was contacted by this second lawyer and asked to be sent a copy of his police statement, and drafted an affidavit “recanting” several aspects of the statement.
The magistrate said in court documents before the court the complainant never sent the affidavit to anyone after having it signed by a Justice of the Peace, but instead took it to the police.
Mr Dib alleged the victim lied in these purported messages to police about not sending his statement to anyone else and how the complainant’s girlfriend told a friend he was a “liar” following their alleged kidnapping in other texts.
“The guys from Sydney rocked up to our house when we came home, we had to go with them to their apartment in Maroochydore, they won’t let him out of their sight until he pays the $2.5m, I went with him so he doesn’t get hurt but he’s told all of us all a lie,” Mr Callaghan quoted the woman’s alleged texts.
The solicitor said these alleged lies by the victim amounted for a change of circumstances.
Senior prosecutor Tegan Smith believed the exhibits tendered to the court could not be relied upon due to the lack of details of their origins, and said there was “ongoing interference” with the witness, which she said strengthened the police case against bail.
Mr Callaghan said he could not rely on the purported messages tendered to the court as they were not proven or admissible. He found there was no change in circumstances.
Both men had their bail applications refused once again. Their matters will return to court on June 9.
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Originally published as Joel A Batour-Pullin, Nassim Eid refused bail again after alleged $2.4m extortion, kidnapping
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