Japheth Fasi: Kingswood man allegedly involved in 20-hour abduction granted bail

A man accused of collecting the dropped phone of an abductee, who was later detained for almost 20 hours with two fingers and a toe severed, in Sydney’s west, has applied for bail.

A 31-year-old man was allegedly abducted in St Marys in February. Photo: iStock / Getty Images

A man accused of collecting the dropped phone of an abductee, who was later detained for almost 20 hours with two fingers and a toe severed, in Sydney’s west, has been granted bail on a $50,000 surety.

Japheth Fasi, 22, appeared at Penrith Local Court on Monday where high-profile lawyer Ahmed Dib successfully applied for Fasi’s bail after being charged with take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.

Court documents state Fasi’s co-accused’s Tristan Valesi Kini, 22, Jye Tuite, 19, and Sione Fisiiahi 22, allegedly hired a Toyota Hiace van about 7pm on February 16 and met up with Viliami Eteaki 24, and Sione Maile 26, to allegedly prepare for the abduction of a 31-year-old man.

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

About 10.30pm, Tuite and Kini allegedly told the man they were on Jackaranda Rd, North St Marys.

The 31-year-old man allegedly had fingers and a toe severed during the alleged abduction.

Fisiiahi was allegedly in the nearby van, while Eteaki and Maile were armed with pistols.

The man was allegedly violently assaulted by Eteaki and Maile on arrival and later punched several times before being abducted.

He was then allegedly “bound by duct tape” around his wrists and ankles and his eyes and mouth covered.

While allegedly threatened with a pistol, the man demanded his mobile phone, which was dropped during the alleged abduction.

He was allegedly taken to a property near Marulan with Tuite and Kini following behind.

Kini allegedly called Fasi to retrieve and dispose of the phone.

Alleged facts state the man was detained for almost 20 hours, repeatedly assaulted and told he was going to be killed.

Demands were also allegedly made in reference to the stolen cocaine and to another alleged kidnapping victim who had been abducted two days earlier for the same purpose.

Bolt cutters were allegedly used to sever both of the man’s little fingers and one little toe while he was stripped naked and filmed, court documents state.

The man was allegedly released in Greenacre at 8pm on February 17 and taken to hospital.

High-profile Lawyer Ahmed Dib successfully applied for Japheth Fasi’s bail at Penrith Local Court on Monday. Photo: Max Mason-Hubers

The van was returned days later and a forensic examination allegedly found an earring worn by the man.

Police allege DNA profiles of the man, Kini and Fisiiahi were also found.

Tuite was arrested on April 3 and allegedly said the men were collectively paid $120,000 for their roles.

Kini was arrested at Penrith Police Station in April, weeks after police allegedly seized phones from his home.

Fisiiahi was arrested in October while Eteaki and Maile were arrested in Bella Vista in November.

Court documents state police will allege Fasi had “intimate knowledge of the planning and commission of the offence”.

He was arrested on December 7 in Kingswood.

Despite the prosecution refusing bail and saying its case was “strong”, Magistrate George Breton agreed to Mr Dib’s proposed conditions on Monday.

It effectively placed Fasi on home detention while he is to report everyday, and an agreed person was to put up $50,000 security.

Fasi’s matter will return to court in February next year.