Marino Sotiropoulos, 46, was one of four men arrested by New South Wales police in the early hours of yesterday (5 May) morning who is believed to be linked to the alleged kidnap of former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill, 50, last month.
Mr Sotiropoulos, the brother of Marian O’Meagher, the owner of the Greek restaurant Aristotle’s in Sydney’s Neutral Bay, with whom Mr MacGill had a relationship. The former cricketer had worked as the restaurant’s general manager for the past three years.
Detective Superintendent Anthony Holton of New South Wales Police told a press conference that Mr MacGill was a victim of a kidnapping and he did not owe money to the alleged kidnappers. He had been targetted purely for his fame and wealth.
“He is not involved in any other backstory that leads him having a personal debt,” Mr Holton was reported as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
The newspaper reported that Mr Sotirorpoulos was charged with unlawfully detaining someone, causing bodily harm, participation in a criminal group, and was also facing commercial drug supply charge relating to 2kg of cocaine.
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Also arrested were Richard Schaaf, 29, who police suspected had links to the Comanchero bikie gang, and his brother, Frederick Schaaf, 27 on a charge of unlawful detention. Son Minh Nguyen, 42, has also been charged over the alleged kidnapping and also for allegedly directing the criminal group’s actions.
Police alleged that Mr Sotiropoulos confronted Mr MacGill at intersection in Cremorne at about 8pm on 14 April. Two men appeared and the former cricketer was forced into a vehicle. He was driven 60km away to property in Bringelly in the Sydney’s south west where he was allegedly assaulted and threatened with a firearm.
Police said the men wanted money from Mr MacGill but that no money had been handed over to them.
He was then driven to Belmore, about 40km away, where he was released by his alleged kidnappers.
The newspaper said that rather than return to his residence in Cremorne, Mr MacGill hid in a motel and reported the incident to the police six days later.
Police said the delay in reporting the kidnapping was due to the “significant fear” that the alleged kidnappers had instilled in him.
“To be standing on a street in Cremorne, to be dragged into a car, driven to a remote location, physically assaulted, threatened with a firearm, held for a period of time and then dumped, I think you’d be pretty worried about your own personal safety and the safety of your family and your friends,” Det Supt Holton was reported as saying.
The four accused did not apply for bail when appeared before the Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday and bail was formally refused. Criminal defence lawyer Abbas Soukie who represents Mr Sotiropoulos, said his client would fight the charges and would apply for bail next week.
