A WOMAN believed to be of Nepalese origin was allegedly held hostage for three days in a bizarre extortion plot. She was found blindfolded beside a shallow grave when police swooped on an outer Melbourne property yesterday morning.
Armed Crime Taskforce detectives arrested a 35-year-old man at the Pakenham property over allegations he demanded a ransom from the family of the Nepalese woman, whom he met online. Ransom money was allegedly demanded from the woman's family in Australia and in Nepal.
When police raided the home, they found the pair in the backyard, where a shallow grave had been dug and a cap placed over the woman's eyes. The 35-year-old Endeavour Hills man was arrested at the house at 11.15am.
The 29-year-old woman from Footscray met the man in the city on Tuesday after first meeting him online. Police said the pair might have met on an online dating site.
The pair then drove to the house in Pakenham where the man allegedly told the woman he was holding her captive. They were tipped off by officers from the federal police and investigations led them to the house in Pakenham, which is not believed to be owned by the man.
The woman was not physically hurt in the ordeal and was taken to Casey Hospital but later released. The man was denied bail last night and will face Dandenong Magistrates’ Court today on five charges including kidnapping, two counts of threatening to kill, and one count each of false imprisonment and assault.
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