A youngster accused of kidnapping a person and holding him hostage for a $5m ransom could be “highly motivated” to flee the state if he was granted bail, a court docket has heard.
Lolo Liavaa, 19, was beamed into the NSW Supreme Court on Friday through audiovisual hyperlink to make a determined bid for bail after spending just below a month behind bars on remand.
Police allege he was one in all six males who kidnapped Sydney resident Peter Vuong from his house in western Sydney at 5.20am on March 9.
The group of males allegedly stormed the Smithfield home with a sledgehammer and a gun and compelled Mr Vuong into the again of a car.
They drove him to a rundown home in Belmore, in Sydney’s west, the place they held him hostage for six days, in keeping with police allegations.
During that point, police declare his captors tortured the 26-year-old and forcibly eliminated his tooth.
Mr Liavaa and his alleged co-offenders have been making an attempt to extort $5m from Mr Vuong’s household and buddies as a way to safe his launch, the court docket was informed.
The court docket heard the multimillion-dollar ransom could be used to fund “someone’s drug business”.
Crown prosecutor Caroline Ervin claimed the teenager performed a “pivotal role” within the alleged violent abduction and assault.
“He is clearly involved in the kidnapping from before it occurs until his arrest on the day the complainant was found by police,” she mentioned.
“He wasn’t on the periphery, he was in the midst of it.”
She informed the court docket knowledge extracted from Mr Liavaa’s cellphone positioned him close to the Smithfield home on the time of the kidnapping and confirmed him returning to the Belmore space on daily basis in the course of the hostage interval.
The court docket heard police had found textual content messages on the teenager’s cellphone which laid out the kidnapping plan.
The messages allegedly included the situation, the autos for use earlier than and after the offence, and directions on methods to deal with the hostage.
“He was involved in this meticulously planned kidnapping,” Ms Ervin mentioned.
“It was not a spontaneous matter.”
However, Mr Liavaa’s lawyer, Matthew Johnston, argued there was no proof to put his shopper inside both the home the place Mr Vuong was kidnapped or the “safe house” in Belmore.
Police surveillance on the day of the teenager’s arrest confirmed he was outdoors all the time, the defence lawyer famous.
He mentioned the proof prompt his shopper had performed a lesser position from “one step back” and that he had not been conscious Mr Vuong was being subjected to torture throughout his days in captivity.
Ms Ervin hit again on the declare, telling the court docket Mr Liavaa returned to the Belmore home on daily basis.
“It cannot be suggested that he did not know what was going to happen,” she mentioned.
The court docket heard the sufferer sustained “severe damage” in the course of the terrifying ordeal, together with facial accidents and lacking tooth. He was taken to hospital for remedy after police rescued him.
Officers allegedly uncovered a pistol grip throughout a raid of Mr Liavaa’s home, which the prosecutor mentioned was proof he had entry to firearms and firearm elements.
Ms Ervin argued Mr Liavaa would reoffend or flee the jurisdiction if he was launched from custody.
However, Mr Johnston claimed the dangers may very well be mitigated by Mr Liavaa being confined to his house beneath 24-hour supervision by his household and a “significant” $100,000 surety.
Justice Sarah McNaughton mentioned the teenager’s position within the alleged violent kidnapping was unclear.
While the investigation continues to be ongoing, Justice McNaughton mentioned the proof mounted a “strong case” that Mr Liavaa had been embroiled within the “highly planned criminal act”.
“The material indicates that this applicant was involved from the beginning of the kidnapping to the release,” she mentioned.
“It appears he has involved himself in some of the most serious criminal conduct that he can be charged with.”
The Supreme Court Justice famous the 19-year-old was dealing with a “very lengthy term of imprisonment” if convicted and deemed he could be “highly motivated to flee” the state and refused to grant bail.
Sitting in a cell sporting his jail greens, Mr Liavaa appeared crushed as she delivered her choice.
He and his 5 co-accused have been arrested after police recognized the Belmore house the place Mr Vuong was being held and stormed the premises throughout a dramatic raid on March 14.
The teen was charged with six offences, together with possessing an unlawful firearm and detaining somebody in firm with the intent to ransom them occasioning precise bodily hurt.
His co-accused Sunia Tu Ineau Junior Siasau, John Totau Fahamokioa, Viliami Siasu, Valali Tonga, Lolo Liavaa and Kiteau Tatafu stay earlier than the courts.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
