Men jailed for botched kidnapping of Joe Elias, brother of Ben Elias

Two men who botched the ransom kidnapping of millionaire Sydney party boat owner Joe Elias, brother of NRL legend Ben Elias, have been sentenced.

Two men involved in the “amateurish” botched ransom kidnapping of Sydney party boat identity Joe Elias surveilled his home in the days before he was beaten on the side of a busy street.

Ninip David, 29, was sentenced in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday for bashing Mr Elias and trying to force him into a van, while Tasi Andrew Aii, 32, was sentenced in the same court for helping plan the attack.

Joe Elias at Downing Centre court on Friday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Mr Elias, the owner of All Occasions Cruises and brother to NRL legend Ben Elias, was driving on Victoria Rd, Drummoyne on March 6, 2020 when his vehicle was struck from behind.

The court heard David, who was driving, and another man staged the collision to get Mr Elias out of his car.

When Mr Elias pulled over to inspect the damage the men forced him to the ground and repeatedly punched him. They then attempted to carry him by the wrists and ankles to their van.

Mr Elias was able to escape the men’s grip and flee but suffered a torn rotator cuff, torn bicep and cuts in the struggle.

The court heard David was involved in surveilling Mr Elias’s home in the days before the failed kidnapping but not the longer term planning of the attack.

Conversely Aii was involved in plotting transport and logistics but was not present at the time of the offence.

Both were recruited by businessman Ali Abdulrahman, 39, to kidnap Mr Elias and hold him for ransom.

The other man involved has pleaded not guilty to attempting to take or detain in company with intent to get an advantage (occasioning actual bodily harm) and will face trial later this year.

During sentencing Judge Penelope Wass described the kidnapping attempt as “amateurish”.

“It was carried out in a busy street in daylight with the incident quickly observed by bystanders,” Judge Wass said.

“There was no serious threat made, no disguise used … the plan was initially effective in securing the victim but was not carried out effectively.”

Joe Elias was driving in Drummoyne when the two accused allegedly crashed into his car and attacked him. Picture: Toby Zerna

David previously pleaded guilty to attempting to take or detain in company with intent to get an advantage (occasioning actual bodily harm) and driving while disqualified.

The court heard the Glenmore Park concreter had no criminal history but was struggling with drug addiction at the time of the offence.

He was sentenced to four years behind bars with a non-parole period of two years. With time served on remand he will be eligible for release next month.

Aii pleaded guilty to accessory before the fact to attempting to take or detain in company with intent to get an advantage and unauthorised possession of a pistol.

The Quakers Hill construction worker had a criminal history including a violent assault and was also heavily using drugs.

He was sentenced to four years and four months behind bars with a non-parole period of two years and two months. He will be eligible for release in August.

Abdulrahman, of Luddenham, was previously jailed for five years for masterminding the attempted kidnapping.

Mr Elias previously made headlines when 39-year-old mother Shalina Abdul Hussein tragically died after being overcome with noxious gas from the sewage tanks on a party boat he owned.

Ship master Paul Titze pleaded guilty to multiple offences after being charged by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority over the February 2019 incident.

Mr Elias later refitted the boat, renaming it from Lady Rose to My Way.

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