By Miklos Bolza, AAP, edited by Kaniva Tonga News
A Sydney woman who allegedly supplied information used in the gruesome kidnapping which involved six Tongan suspects has been granted bail.
Sira Elkheir, 21, appeared at Burwood Local Court on Thursday, one day after the NSW government agency employee was arrested for aiding the alleged kidnappers.
Police claim that Peter Vuong was snatched from his home in Smithfield on March 9, forced into a vehicle and held for nearly a week and tortured as ransom demands were made, Sydney’s 9News reported.
The 26-year-old was rescued from a home in Belmore by tactical police officers on March 14.
Elkheir was arrested on Wednesday in Greenacre after an investigation by detectives and police officers under Strike Force Kkuoa.
The Yagoona woman has been accused of illegally accessing Traffic for New South Wales data and then passing these details onto the alleged kidnappers prior to Vuong being abducted.
She has been charged with kidnapping for the intent of ransom, causing an unauthorised computer function to commit a serious indictable offence, accessing restricted computer data, and participating in a criminal group.
Her bail conditions include the surrender of her passport, the imposition of a nightly curfew, and the payment of a $300,000 surety which will be forfeited if she skips court.
Police in March described the kidnapping as a “very serious crime” involving an “extreme” level of violence.
During the ordeal Vuong, who was not known to police, was bound and had his teeth forcibly removed.
Six other Tongan men – Sunia Tu’ineau Junior Siasau, John Totau Fahamokioa, Viliami Siasau, high profile Tongan rapper Valeli Tonga, Lolo Liavaa and Kiteau Tatafu – were arrested in March over the alleged plot and are currently before the courts.
Elkheir will next appear at Parramatta Local Court on June 8.
