Man charged over Blackburn North kidnapping

Explosive court documents allege the man charged over the kidnapping of two Blackburn North children demanded a $1m ransom.

Two detectives leave with evidence collected at the family’s house in Blackburn North. Picture: David Crosling

Three phones are being analysed in a bid to uncover the motive of the Blackburn North kidnapper, a court has heard.

Jiangang Ji, 36, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after being charged with 10 offences over the alleged abduction of Adilla Wally, 5, and her younger brother Bilal, 3, on Monday.

Mr Ji, who had to be assisted by a Mandarin interpreter, had his head bowed and did not speak throughout the administrative hearing.

Prosecutor Holly Baxter told the court the case had attracted “significant media attention” and that detectives would need more time than usual to prepare the brief of evidence against Mr Ji with items seized from at least three different locations requiring forensic analysis.

She said three phones in which the majority of communications on them are in Mandarin also need to be analysed.

Charge sheets released by the court allege Mr Ji demanded a $1 million ransom to have the children released.

He is also accused of weilding a knife during the terrifying home invasion.

Adilla Wally with her brother Bilal.

Ms Baxter did not reveal who the three phones belonged to, but said the accused and the family involved were known to each other.

Magistrate Ross Maxted confirmed the phone analysis would provide “otherwise contextual connections between the accused and the victim”.

Charge sheets released by the court allege Mr Ji demanded a $1 million ransom to have the children released.

He is also accused of weilding a knife during the terrifying home invasion.

Legal Aid lawyer Sharon Healey, for Mr Ji, asked that her client be seen by the psychiatric nurse.

“This is his first time in custody,” Ms Healey said.

“I do have some concerns about his current mental health, and possible suicidal ideation.”

Mr Ji made no application for bail and will return to court on December 17.

It comes after police released two men and a woman without charge and are treating the incident as an alleged targeted attack.

The accused allegedly bound and gagged their 32-year-old mother before fleeing the family’s Springfield Rd home in their black Mercedes Benz about 8.45am.

The children were found safe inside the stolen car at a house on Cochrane St in Mitcham, where the four suspects were arrested.