Shocking new details emerge after cops storm Belmore home to rescue alleged kidnap victim
A man who was allegedly kidnapped from his home by six men had three of his teeth ripped out with pliers as his captors demanded $5 million in cash and drugs, police will allege.
Police & Courts
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Kidnappers used sledgehammers and pliers to rip out three teeth from a young Sydney man held hostage for six days while his captors demanded $5 million in cash and large amounts of drugs, otherwise he would “end up in little pieces”, police allege.
A gun was also allegedly shoved down the throat of 26-year-old Peter Vuong and photos of his grisly torture sent to associates as part of the kidnappers’ demands.
Details of the highly secretive operation to rescue Mr Vuong were revealed on Wednesday after police using flash grenades stormed a home in Belmore on Tuesday when they found him bound and blindfolded on a bed.
They found his teeth in the lounge room with a set of bloody pliers and a makeshift bed where he had been allegedly kept for six days while his captors sent details of their demands.
Police also found Kentucky Fried Chicken wrappers next to the bed.
“Firearms were used, sledgehammers were used, the male was tortured, he had his teeth physically removed by these people, it’s a very high level of violence,’ said Detective Superintendent Joe Douehi, head of the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad of police allegations.
“The victim has no criminal record and only minor traffic offences from years ago,” he said.
Masked NSW Police officers decked out in commando gear made the arrests, while an armoured police car waited outside the Belmore home.
Soon after Mr Vuong was released, police arrested a 19-year-old man and five others around Sydney.
“We will allege these men are part of a criminal enterprise in an effort to extort a large sum of money from this man and this man‘s associates,” Det Supt Douehi said.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb praised the bravery of the officers involved.
“It was a high risk situation but our officers are highly trained and it was a calculated risk,” Commissioner Webb said.
“We are well trained and equipped for these situations and I’m very proud of their courage and bravery.
“We have had officers working around the clock, really 24/7, to find the location and bring them home safely.
“He is (Peter Vuong) obviously injured and is traumatised.”
Shocking aspects of the allegations were aired when one of the six, 20-year-old John Totau Fahamokioa, applied for bail in Bankstown Local Court.
“There were bits of the fact sheet I just could not read without clenching my teeth, terrifying facts,” Magistrate Jennifer Giles said.
“The fact sheet has some of the most violent, ghastly, torturous and wicked criminal behaviour I think I’ve ever seen.”
Fahamokioa’s lawyer Oussama Elfawal agreed the alleged crime was shocking.
“Like a Hollywood blockbuster,” Mr Elfawal said.
Fahamokioa was arrested outside the Belmore address where Mr Vuong was allegedly detained and was charged with aggravated break and enter, kidnapping causing actual bodily harm, demanding property with menaces, participating in a criminal group and intentionally causing grievous bodily harm.
In documents tendered to the court, police allege Mr Vuong was pushed to the ground at a Smithfield address about 5.15am last Thursday and beaten with batons before he was ordered into a waiting car at gunpoint.
It is understood Mr Vuong is not accused of any involvement with criminal activity and was taken in efforts to secure millions of dollars and a large commercial quantity of drugs from another party.
“Want his body in pieces, get the $5 million ready,” one of the accused is alleged to have texted.
Police allege at least two of the men “held him and forced a pistol in his mouth”, and that three of his teeth were smashed with sledgehammers and removed with pliers.
Details of the allegations were described as “ghastly” and “wicked” by a magistrate.
It is further alleged pictures were sent to the person from whom the ransom was demanded showing the detained man’s horrific injuries.
At Bankstown Local Court, Mr Elfawal told the court the police allegations - in which Fahamokioa is only fleetingly mentioned - only accuse him of keeping a lookout.
“The highest the police case goes is … that he was located within the vicinity of the property with instructions to remain outside, being a lookout,” Mr Elfawal told the court.
“They say an examination of his iPhone showed texts which referred to him being paid to keep a lookout for police on behalf of the accused … there is nothing before the court to suggest he was aware of any break and enter, the facts don’t suggest he knew about the demand for property or the take and detain.”
Ms Giles noted Fahamokioa was picked up by police behind the property - allegedly keeping a lookout - hours after his five co-accused had already been arrested and removed from the location.
However, the magistrate acknowledged the worst allegations of “horrific torture, picking up ransom money, sledgehammers, pistols” were not ascribed to Fahamokioa at all.
“There is no evidence that he was involved with the kidnapping, the original setting upon (the) poor (complainant), the shocking break and enter, the torture, the threats, the ransom demands, or the travelling to pick up the money,” Ms Giles said.
“This gentleman was not involved, on this 12 page fact sheet, in any of the sledgehammering, tearing out of teeth, guns in mouths, the breaking of people’s faces - none of that is alleged to be anything at all to do with this man.”
The currently unemployed labourer - who is a permanent Australian resident hailing from New Zealand - was therefore granted bail with strict conditions akin to home detention.
The other five men did not apply for bail and will appear in Burwood Local Court on May 10.
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