Teenage Suspect Denied Bail in Alleged Sydney Tobacco Shop Kidnapping
A 16-year-old boy has been refused bail after being charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a tobacco shop owner in Sydney's southwest. The teenager, who cannot be identified due to his age, appeared in Surry Hills Children's Court on Friday, one day after his arrest during police raids in Dural.
Violent Kidnapping and Hostage Situation
The 53-year-old victim was reportedly attacked by four masked individuals outside his shop on Meadows Road in Mount Pritchard at approximately 6:15 am on Tuesday. According to court documents, the man was then driven 25 kilometres to a property in Dural, where he was held hostage for more than 48 hours.
Police allege the victim was assaulted with weapons and electrical cords during his captivity. Threatening messages demanding money were reportedly sent to his family members. The hostage was eventually rescued by tactical police officers during a raid on Thursday and taken to hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
Serious Charges Filed Against Teenage Suspect
The 16-year-old has been charged with multiple serious offences, including kidnapping in company with intent to ransom, possessing a shortened firearm, and participating in a criminal group. The court noted that the teenager was already on bail for other serious alleged offences when it refused his bail application.
Investigators are continuing their search for four other suspects believed to be involved in the kidnapping. The teenage suspect is scheduled to face court again next week as the investigation progresses.
Dural's Troubling Criminal History
This incident occurred in Dural, a semi-rural suburb on Sydney's outskirts that has recently been the site of other serious criminal cases. Just days earlier, the body of 85-year-old grandfather Chris Baghsarian was discovered in bushland in Sydney's northwest following what police believe was a botched mistaken identity kidnapping.
In that separate case, authorities allege Baghsarian was killed at a makeshift stronghold in Dural before his body was dumped in Pitt Town. Two men have been charged with his kidnapping and murder, while police continue to search for a third alleged offender and others involved in the case.
Investigators believe the intended target in the Baghsarian case was a relative of underworld-linked Sydney businessman Dimitri Stepanyan, who lived on the same street as the elderly victim. Baghsarian's family has described the ordeal as a "nightmare" for their beloved grandfather, who they say "would never hurt a fly."
The recent kidnapping cases have highlighted concerning criminal activity in Sydney's outer suburbs, with authorities working to apprehend all individuals involved in these violent incidents.
