Michael Finekifolau charged over alleged pizza delivery kidnapping
A man who once served in the defence force in Darwin has fronted court accused of posing as a pizza delivery man during a violent kidnapping in Sydney’s northwest.
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A man who once served in the defence force has been refused bail after being charged over a violent alleged kidnapping in Sydney’s northwest during which police allege he posed as a pizza delivery man.
Michael Finekifolau appeared via video link at Penrith Local Court today and made the sign of the cross before his solicitor Elias Tabchouri applied for his release on bail.
The 26-year-old, who the court heard had served in the Australian Defence Force for some time in Darwin, has been charged with take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm and aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence-use violence.
He is yet to formally enter a plea.
Mr Finekifolau, of Cranebrook, was arrested earlier this week over the February 9 incident.
Police were called to a home on Brothers Rd, Dundas Valley, about 10.30pm after reports of a home invasion.
CCTV footage shows a man carrying pizza boxes arriving at the home and forcing his way through the front door, followed seconds later by three others.
Police allege a 58-year-old man was assaulted and knocked unconscious before being taken away in a vehicle.
The man presented to Liverpool Hospital two days later with face and leg fractures, sparking an investigation into the incident.
Strike Force Kaeppel detectives were told a sum of money was paid for the man’s safe release. Investigations are continuing.
The court today heard the man was allegedly doused in petrol before being released.
In applying for bail, Mr Tabchouri said his client was willing to comply with strict conditions, including having an electronic monitoring bracelet fitted, if he was granted bail.
He said there was “no disputing” the seriousness of the allegations, but what was important was the strength of the prosecution’s case.
Mr Tabchouri said the Crown’s case rested on two pieces of evidence that allegedly linked his client to the incident — a CCTV image and Mr Finekifolau’s fingerprint on a Domino’s pizza box found at the scene.
However, he said the person in the image “does not jump out at one” as being specifically his client and the fingerprint could have been transferred at a different time.
“On any view of it, that can’t be said that is the accused clearly depicted. They (the prosecution) can’t make such an assertion,” Mr Tabchouri said.
The prosecution opposed bail, saying it had a strong case and the facts in the matter were “disturbing”.
Magistrate Fiona Toose said the conditions proposed by the defence did not mitigate the risks if bail was granted. It was formally refused.
The matter returns to Parramatta Local Court on July 30.