Chilling texts that were allegedly sent by a gang as they threatened to cut off a woman’s toes with a bolt-cutter over $25million worth of stolen cocaine have emerged.
A 40-year-old accused kidnapper, who can only be identified as AN for legal reasons, allegedly snatched the woman off a Sydney street and passed her to a group of men who allegedly tortured her for two days in an Ermington basement.
Police claim the woman had a gun held to her head as the gang of up to nine men allegedly tried to extract a ‘confession’ about the location of 84kg of missing cocaine.
They allegedly sent photos of her severed toe to her boyfriend, and pictures of a gun to her head with the words: ‘You think we’re joking’.
Other text messages allegedly sent by the group include: ‘I just cut her toe off’, ‘Fingers next’ and ‘I just stomped on her head.’
The gang allegedly even kidnapped and tortured two two male friends of the woman when they were unable to ascertain the location of the cocaine.
Texts allegedly sent by the gang as they tried to find the location of the missing cocaine include ‘Fingers next’ and ‘I just stomped on her head’
The bloodied van in which a male friend of the woman was allegedly stomped on before having his fingers cut off
The woman was held for two days in a basement and allegedly tortured, including having her toes cut off with a bolt cutter while her boyfriend was texted ‘I just cut off her toe …. fingers next’
The hand of one of the male friends who allegedly had fingers amputated in the horrifying ordeal
In another set of messages, the partner was then warned, ’20 minutes and something else is coming off’ and ‘you don’t just steal 25 mil and hope it goes away.
‘If the police are informed she is dead,’ another alleged message said.
Some of the men then taped her half naked body to a tree under cover of night, police alleged.
After she broke free the woman found help and spent six days in John Hunter Hospital.
Police allege the kidnapper AN then tried to flee the country for Thailand as cops seized his father’s van, which they claim was used in the woman’s kidnap.
Two of the woman’s close male friends were also allegedly kidnapped and tortured.
One allegedly had his face stomped in the back of a van and then had his fingers cut off.
Another set of alleged messages sent by the gang as they tried to locate the cocaine
Accused kidnapper’s bail application
The NSW Supreme Court heard on Friday that AN had been engaged in a drug operation with the woman involving ‘dead drops’ of drugs in public places like parks.
When the massive lot of cocaine went missing, AN allegedly blamed the theft on the woman.
In mid-February last year she was allegedly kidnapped, held in a basement and tortured by up to nine men.
The woman was held in an Ermington basemen for three days while men held a gun to her head, cut off her toes with a bolt cutter and then tied her to a tree in bushland
The male victims allegedly had fingers and toes severed and one of the men has his head stomped on during the ordeal in February last year
AN allegedly told the woman he would be leaving for Vietnam, but on February 18, 2024 he was found at the airport preparing to board a flight to Hong Kong with a connection to Phuket, Thailand.
He had $10,000 in cash in his possession. Police arrested and and charged him with six offences including take or detain in company with intent to ransom occasioning actual bodily harm.
He was also charged with possess unauthorised pistol, wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, knowingly direct criminal group, take detain in company for advantage occasioning actual bodily harm and knowingly direct a criminal group.
His bail hearing heard that he was ‘drug addled’ during the commission of the alleged offence.
The woman was held for two days while she was allegedly tortured over $25m of cocaine and her boyfriend sent texts including that if police were told she would be killed
With his client appearing via video link from prison, AN’s lawyer Tom Hughes said that if granted bail the man had agreed to go straight into drug rehab at Connect Global in Port Stephens.
They lawyer said: ‘Is he going to do a runner? He won’t have a passport. He would be closely monitored … and has family support.’
He said AN would wear a Satellite tracking anklet funded by his family who would also put up an $150,000 surety.
However, Crown prosecutor Raffaella Buttini said that apart from being a flight risk the alleged female victim, who would provide direct evidence at trial, was also potentially at risk if he wasn’t behind bars.
Justice Mark Ierace formally refused AN bail, describing the alleged torture as ‘harrowing’ and saying his release posed an ‘unacceptable risk’.
However His Honour did tell the accused he had been on remand for an ‘unacceptable’ period.
If the case was further delayed in the courts, he might make another bail application, the judge said.