Crypto trader flees after alleged torture of associate

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

A cryptocurrency trader has fled Australia days after the alleged brutal kidnapping and torture of an associate, according to reports.

Tran Dinh was believed to have been the intended target of the brutal alleged attack on Peter Vuong last month, who was detained at a house in western Sydney for several days, where his teeth were pulled out with a hammer and pliers, and a gun was shoved down his throat, according to police.

The 29-year-old man was reportedly filmed asking for help in footage later sent to Dinh during a A$5 million (about $5.386 million) ransom demand.

said police sources the daily telegraph (with paywall) Dinh had been worried about another attempt to attack him and had left shortly after Vuong was rescued in a dramatic police operation in Belmore.

“[Dinh] he left town just a few days later and headed abroad, and who can blame him," a police source told the newspaper.

It comes after police this week arrested a 21-year-old state government employee in a Bunnings parking lot in connection with the incident.

Sira Elkheir is alleged to have used her role at Service NSW to access personal information that was shared with others for criminal purposes.

Elkheir, from Yagoona, western Sydney, allegedly used his work computer on February 20 to look up the address and license details of Dinh, his wife and Vuong's father, which police allege were later provided. to the kidnappers.

She was arrested by NSW Police detectives in the parking lot of Bunnings store in Greenacre on Wednesday and charged with one count each of taking/detaining in company with intent to salvage (inflicted actual bodily harm), participating in a criminal group, restricted access/modification and causing an unauthorized computer function with the intent to commit a felony indictable offense.

Elkheir appeared in Burwood Local Court on Thursday where he was granted a strict probationary bond.

Police will allege that the kidnappers first attacked Vuong in the driveway of his Smithfield home on March 1, leaving him with serious injuries.

They then allegedly returned on March 9 and forced their way in, dragging him out of bed and into a van before driving him to the property on Canterbury Road in Belmore.

He was held there for nearly a week and subjected to an extreme level of violence, Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi told reporters last month.

“The man had been tied up, tied up, had his face covered, suffered numerous injuries, facial injuries and had his teeth forcibly extracted,” he said.

"Firearms were used, sledgehammers were used, the man was tortured."

On Tuesday, March 14, dozens of heavily armed police officers and tactical agents stormed the property using flash grenades in a spectacular operation.

Vuong was located inside the house and evaluated by paramedics before being taken to the hospital for treatment.

Six men, ages 19, 20 and 21, were arrested and charged for their alleged role in the incident. They remain before the courts.