Man charged in alleged Sydney kidnapping, extortion plot

Police were called to Epping at around 6.45pm on Saturday, April 20 to reports that a woman had been kidnapped. Witnesses told police the woman was allegedly forced into a Toyota Camry by a group of men, who then drove off with her inside.

The woman, aged 36, was found at another address in Sydney's west around 1pm the next day and told police she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted.

On Monday, April 22, detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Eastwood, where clothing belonging to the woman, prohibited drugs and zip ties – believed to have been used in the alleged sexual assault – were found in a trash can.

Following further investigation involving Victoria Police, Yanyu Mu, 29, was arrested in Oakleigh East on June 6.

He was extradited to Sydney the following day and taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was charged with taking/holding in business with intent to obtain ransom, causing actual bodily harm, knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, aggravated sexual assault in business and deprivation of liberty, intentionally recording intimate images without consent, threatening to distribute intimate images without consent and using an intoxicant to commit a criminal act.

Police allege in court that Mr Mu kidnapped and drugged the woman, before photographing her during the sexual assault and will threaten to release the images if she does not pay him $300,000.

He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He did not request bail and it was formally refused. The case will return to court on August 8.

Investigations into the incident, led by Strike Force Held, continue.

Originally published as Man charged with alleged kidnapping, sexual assault and $300,000 blackmail plot