KFC bone false imprisonment: Stephen Athanasiadas hired Dib brothers for violent extortion plot
A gang has kidnapped and tortured a man during a violent extortion in Melbourne’s southeast, doing a KFC run mid-attack before eating the chicken and throwing the bones at the victim, saying “eat it like a dog”.
South East
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A gang including two Sydney drug dealing brothers were under police surveillance when they tortured a man, Face-timed the attack to their dad, then stopped for a KFC break in Melbourne’s southeast.
The County Court heard convicted ecstasy trafficker Ahmed “Bugzy” Dib and his younger brother Hussein Dib were paid $6000 by Stephen Athanasiadas to help carry out the violent plot to extort $130,000 and a car.
The brothers were flown from Sydney for the January 11, 2018 attack.
The gang got together at Heatherton Nandos about 3pm to discuss the plot.
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Athanasiadas and Ahmed and another car load of men drove around in convoy looking for their victim.
Athanasiadas rammed the victim’s Falcon ute after they found him in Dandenong, but the victim managed to escape.
Athanasiadas then lured him to his father’s southeast home about 8.30pm.
Athanasiadas led the victim to the garage where he was ambushed and assaulted by the Dib brothers.
The thugs punched and kicked the victim until he was knocked to the ground bleeding.
Ahmed threatened the victim with a handgun.
Ahmed and a fourth offender, Christopher Hughes-Firgaria, were dispatched to collect the victim’s car – and do a KFC run.
The gang ate the chicken while the victim lay beaten on the ground, then threw the bones at him saying “eat it like a dog”.
Then they continued to bash him while he was “huddled on the floor”.
Athanasiadas, who filmed part of the attack on his phone, used Facetime to call his father who was in Italy at the time.
Athanasiadas’ dad laughed as his son broadcast the beating to him.
Hughes-Firgaria said “get the pliers and I’ll rip his teeth out one by one” while he “verbally encouraged” the beating.
Athanasiadas told the victim his “house will be sprayed and your brother got” if he didn’t get the cash.
The victim, his shirt soaked in blood and ripped, was forced to clean up his own blood, which had been splattered around the garage.
The beating stopped when the victim signed over his car and agreed to transfer $130,000.
Ahmed warned the victim “not to talk to police or anyone else” before letting him go.
The Joint Organised Crime Taskforce including Victoria Police had Athanasiadas under phone surveillance at the time of the attack but they didn’t move in until January 15.
Police used phone records, the KFC receipt and evidence gathered from Athanasiadas’s city apartment and his parents home to build their case.
All four men were sentenced in the County Court on November 13 after each were found guilty of several charges including false imprisonment.
Judge McInerney said the victim suffered “significant injuries” followed by “mental and psychological issues”.
The victim said his captors had tortured him.
Judge McInerney said Athanasiadas and Ahmed “arranged the whole escapade” including the “planning, lead-up and the duping”.
He said Athanasiadas negotiated with Ahmed for the convicted drug dealer and his brother to come to Melbourne for $6000.
Athanasiadas and Ahmed, who were also found guilty of intentionally cause injury, were sentenced to a minimum 14 and 11 months’ prison respectively.
Hussein, who was also found guilty of recklessly cause injury, was sentenced to a minimum eight months’ prison.
The Dib brothers have no priors for violence but both served lengthy jail terms in Sydney for drug offences.
Athanasiadas, 26, wept as he waved goodbye to his family shortly after Judge McInerney sentenced him to a maximum 23 months’ jail.
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Ahmed, 34, and Hussein, 26, were sentenced to a maximum 17 months and 15 months’ prison respectively.
The brothers have indicated they will live at Delahey in Melbourne’s west when they are released.
Father of three Hughes-Firgaria, 26, was placed on a three year community corrections order.