Exec accused of masterminding Stuart MacGill kidnapping bailed

The alleged mastermind of the kidnapping of former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill has been released on strict bail.

An advertising executive who police allege masterminded the kidnapping of Stuart MacGill has been released on an eye-watering bail sum and must stay away from the former star cricketer’s side of the city.

Son Minh Nguyen was one of four men arrested for allegedly abducting and bashing the test cricketer over a failed cocaine deal.

Former test cricketer Stuart MacGill. Picture: Adam Yip

MacGill had no knowledge of the cocaine deal that allegedly triggered his violent ordeal, police have said repeatedly.

Nguyen was arrested alongside brothers Richard and Frederick Schaaf and Marino Sotiropoulos, who was the brother of MacGill’s partner.

On Thursday the 42-year-old’s barrister Hament Dhanji SC told the NSW Supreme Court that Nguyen had “a marriage, a mortgage and a child” while the police only had a “weak” case against him.

MacGill, who played 44 Tests for Australia, was allegedly forced into a car at Cremorne on April 14 and then taken to a remote property at Bringelly, on Sydney’s southwestern outskirts.

Police allege he was dumped an hour later in Belmore.

Crown prosecutors told the court Nguyen was near the kidnap site an hour prior to the alleged abduction and continued to level threats against the spin bowler afterwards.

The alleged kidnappers were arrested in dawn raids and have been in custody ever since.

Nguyen was charged with detaining for advantage, accessory after the fact to detaining for advantage, possessing an unauthorised firearm (a gel blaster) and knowingly direct activities of a criminal group.

But Mr Dhanji said Crown prosecutors lacked material to show the freelance advertising executive was knowingly directing any criminal group.

He urged the court to apply “caution” when dealing with conversations allegedly between Nguyen and an undercover cop, who he says was trying to elicit confessions.

Justice Julia Lonergan granted Nguyen bail on Thursday, finding the Crown case was neither weak nor strong.

Nguyen’s family stumped up $430,000 to guarantee his reappearance and he will remain under strict bail conditions until his matter is heard again.

Among the many conditions is an order Nguyen must not to contact Mr MacGill and cannot enter Neutral Bay, where the bowler manages a restaurant.

The long delay before the men face trial was a significant factor in the judge’s decision to release Nguyen.

The court heard, on Thursday, that the alleged kidnappers are unlikely to face trial before the end of 2022.

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed back trials in NSW courts for the last two years.

Mr Sotiropoulos, 46, of Brighton-Le-Sands, is facing charges of kidnapping with assault causing actual bodily harm, participating in a criminal group and supplying 2kg of cocaine.

It’s alleged Mr MacGill was kidnapped after he introduced Mr Sotiropoulos to another associate, “Sonny”.

According to the court documents Sonny allegedly bought 2kg of cocaine from Mr Sotiropoulos for $660,000.

But police will allege that when Sonny failed to pay, MacGill was allegedly blamed and ordered to pay $150,000.

He reported the alleged kidnapping to police six days later because the apparent incident had instilled “significant fear” in him, officers told the media.

Police said the cricketer was “purely” a victim of crime.

The Schaaf brothers have both been charged with participating in a criminal group and take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasioning actual bodily harm over the alleged incident.