Accused kidnapper granted bail despite threat to victim

An accused thug charged with kidnapping and bashing a teenager in a city carpark has won bail despite telling police he would “knock his victim’s teeth out” if he wasn’t locked up.

A man accused of kidnapping has won bail despite telling police he would “smash’’ his victim. Picture: iStock

A drug-addicted alleged thug charged with kidnapping and bashing a teenager in a city car park has been bailed despite telling police he would “smash’’ his victim if he got out.

Yousif Elias, 20, was last week allowed to leave jail and sent home to his mother by a Supreme Court judge even though he was on bail at the time of the alleged kidnapping, bashing, whipping and extortion of the teenager.

Elias and a co-accused even filmed the alleged attack, which police say was payback over a sour drug deal the previous night.

The alleged May 1 beating included a head kick, whipping with a cord and the teenager being made to strip.

The Supreme Court bail hearing was told Elias claimed to be an undercover cop and demanded the teenager hand over two bags of “ice” during the garage standover.

Elias recorded himself telling the victim to set up his dealers, and that if he said “no comment”, he would do 12 years’ prison, the court heard. At one point it’s alleged a fire ­extinguisher was held over the teenager, with Elias saying: “I’m gonna ­f---ing kill him.”

Police say the teenager attempted to escape as they left the CBD car park, resulting in Elias slapping the teenager, saying: “Why would you even try and think about escaping me. Now you are going to be hostage for three days.”

The court heard the ordeal ended when the teenager was taken to a bank to withdraw money and he alerted bank staff that he was being held hostage. Police charged Elias after unearthing the phone footage during an unrelated raid on July 2.

The prosecution, who opposed bail, revealed that on July 14 Elias asked about the teenager’s whereabouts, telling them: “I know where to find him. If I’m not locked up I will go and knock his teeth out.”

The COVID-19 pandemic, however, was a major factor in Elias being released from remand and into his mother’s care despite fears over him interfering with witnesses and threats made towards the victim.

Justice Phil Priest, in granting bail, was swayed by it being Elias’ first time in custody and “onerous” prison conditions during the pandemic, including visitor bans.

Also key to his decision was a likely two-year delay in finalising the case.

Elias is facing a raft of charges including assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, robbery, making a threat to kill, impersonating a police officer and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

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