Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged a man over his involvement in two alleged kidnappings earlier this year under Strike Force Lutetium.
Just before midnight on Saturday 4 November 2023, emergency services were called to a unit on Grazier Street in Lidcombe, following reports a 36-year-old man had been assaulted and forced into a vehicle.
About 11pm the following day (Sunday 5 November 2023), the man was found on Lower Washington Drive, Bonnet Bay, suffering facial injuries.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Sutherland Hospital in a stable condition.
Investigations revealed the incident was linked to the alleged kidnapping of a 44-year-old man from a shop on Park Road in Regents Park on Friday 6 October 2023. He was returned home the following day suffering minor facial injuries.
Detectives from Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Lutetium to investigate and, so far, have charged three people who remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, about 7:25am today (Tuesday 12 December 2023), strike force detectives – with assistance from South West Metropolitan Operations Support Group – executed a search warrant at Silverwater where they arrested an 18-year-old man.
He was taken to Auburn Police Station and charged with three offences including take/detain person in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, participate criminal group, and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.
The 18-year-old was refused bail and appeared before Bankstown Local Court today.
Inquiries under Strike Force Lutetium continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
