A woman accused of using her role at Service NSW to get a ‘gang’ a businessman’s home address before allegedly kidnapping him and removing his teeth with a hammer and pliers is out on bail released for $300,000.
Sira Elkheir, 21, was arrested at 11am on Wednesday in Bunnings car park in the western Sydney suburb of Greenacre over the alleged kidnapping and torture of Peter Vuong last month.
Mr Vuong was reportedly abducted from his influencer girlfriend Angel Bowyer’s home in Smithfield on March 9 by six armed men, who allegedly took him to an abandoned house 11 miles away in Belmore.
The men reportedly pulled his teeth out during the traumatic six-day ordeal and demanded that Ms Bowyer’s high-flying crypto trader, Tran Dinh, pay a $5 million ransom for his release.
Elkheir was hit with a string of kidnapping-related offenses and appeared in Burwood’s local court on Thursday morning – handcuffed and wearing the same cream sweater she was arrested in.
Sira Elkheir, 21, was arrested on Bunnings (pictured) charges in connection with the kidnapping and six-day torture of small business owner Peter Vuong
Peter Vuong, 26, and his glamorous influencer girlfriend Angel Bowyer (above, together) were sleeping at her family’s home in Smithfield when he was reportedly kidnapped
As Magistrate Elaine Trustcott reviewed the court documents, the former government employee smiled at her father and sister who supported her from the public gallery.
Her father was momentarily overcome with emotion before lowering his head, closing his eyes, and rubbing his temple.
The court heard that Elkheir allegedly first accessed Service NSW’s systems on February 20 to look up information on Mr Vuong’s car, which was registered under his father’s name.
On March 1, the kidnappers allegedly followed Mr. Vuong’s car and ambushed him outside his girlfriend’s family home.
He is said to have suffered a broken eye socket and head lacerations before the men left the scene.
On March 9, the men reportedly returned to the house to kidnap him – armed with sledgehammers and guns.
Eleven hours later, Elkheir is said to have looked up the details of Mr Dinh’s wife, Anna, and took screenshots of her driver’s license photo.
On March 10, the alleged kidnappers contacted Mr Dinh with a demand for $5 million – and sent driver’s license photos of him and his wife, Anna.
Police allege Elkheir obtained driver’s license photos of Tran Dinh and his wife (pictured together) from Service NSW systems and supplied them to the alleged kidnappers
Defense attorney Troy Edwards argued that the case against Elkheir was weak, stating that she was of good character beforehand and that she is unlikely to go to prison if convicted.
He told the court his client had been taken in and said she obtained the information used in the alleged kidnapping, but said it was unclear whether she was shocked when she learned about the alleged incident through media reports.
“She could have accessed it as a favor or lawful purpose, or she could have accessed it knowing it was something illegal but not knowing what it was,” he said.
“There is certainly no claim that this applicant knew all the ingredients of the events – kidnapping, ransom and companionship.”
Mr Edwards said his client may have realized how the information she allegedly collected on Mr Vuong was being used until the alleged incident made headlines.
In resisting bail, the prosecution argued that Elkheir faced “extremely serious” charges and that she had made taped confessions about access to the records.
Prosecutors said jail time was likely if she was convicted, and told Magistrate Elkheir there was a likely risk of flight and that she could obstruct witnesses if released.
The filthy home where Peter Vuong was taken and reportedly held for six days as his teeth were ‘forcefully’ removed with pliers
Magistrate Trustcott agreed that the alleged crime was “very serious,” noting that the accused kidnappers “put a gun in his mouth, used a hammer and pliers to remove his teeth.”
However, Magistrate Trustcott sided with the defense, saying the prosecution’s argument that Elkheit knew about the alleged kidnapping and torture was weak.
She noted that Elkheir had strong ties to the community and her family who were “somewhat shaken by the situation she’s in.”
“There is strong evidence that she had access to the data, but there is no strong evidence that she knew who she had access to the data for or who she had access to,” Magistrate Trustcott said.
“There is no evidence linking her to the ransom or evidence that she has criminal partners.”
Elkheir was granted bail under strict conditions, including $300,000 bail from her father.
She is also prohibited from approaching an Australian departure point, traveling on the highway, and must regularly report to the police.
She will be back in court on June 8.
Dramatic footage of the arrest shows Elkheir being beaten by officers before they search her handbag and black Mercedes.
She was then ordered to remove her shoes and jewelry before being bundled into the back of a police van.
Police arrest one of Mr Vuong’s alleged kidnappers after a days-long sting operation was launched to save the 26-year-old from his torture
Viliami Siasau, 19, Valali Tonga, 20, Sunia Siasau, 20, and John Totau Fahamokioa, 20, Lolo Liavaa, 19, and Kitueau Tatafu, 21, have also been charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping and torture.
Police allege the six men forced their way into the sprawling two-story home of Vuong’s girlfriend Angel Bowyer at around 5:20 a.m. on March 9, armed with sledgehammers and guns.
They are then accused of taking him to Belmore’s squalid premises, where they allegedly held him for days while sending messages to Ms Bowyer’s relative, Tran Dinh, demanding $5 million or they would “put Mr. Vuong in chop pieces’.
Shortly after the alleged kidnapping, a massive police operation began – eventually leading to tactical officers armed with flash grenades storming Belmore’s home and rescuing Mr. Vuong.
Four men were arrested on the Canterbury Road grounds and a further two were apprehended by officers a few blocks away.
All six men faced trial on March 15, with the exception of Fahamokioa – who was released under strict conditions – who have been taken into custody until their next appearance on May 10.