Thirsty Monkey Jacob Najjar: Three charged over alleged kidnapping
Two men and a teenage boy have been charged for their alleged role in the kidnapping of a popular TikTokker and bar owner.
Jacob Najjar, the owner of Thirsty Monkey, was reportedly dragged from his unit on Grazier Street in Lidcombe, in Sydney’s west, around midnight on November 4.
The 36-year-old was found nearly 24 hours later, about 20 miles away, on the side of Lower Washington Drive in Bonnet Bay with facial injuries.
Police arrested two men aged 30 and 27 on Friday evening, along with a 17-year-old boy.
Jacob Najjar, the owner of Thirsty Monkey, was reportedly dragged from his unit on Grazier Street in Lidcombe, in Sydney’s west, around midnight on November 4.
NSW paramedics found him almost 24 hours later with minor facial injuries and took him to hospital in a stable condition
Detectives believe Mr Najjar’s alleged kidnapping is linked to a separate incident in which a 44-year-old man was kidnapped from a shop in Regents Park last Friday.
The man was returned home the next day with minor facial injuries.
The 30-year-old man has been charged with two counts of capture/detention in company with intent to demand ransom, actual bodily harm, conspiracy to capture/detain in company with intent to demand ransom and knowingly directing activities of a criminal group.
The younger man and teenager were charged with capture/detain in company with intent to commit ransom commit actual bodily harm, enter building/premises with intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of participating criminal group contribute criminally, two counts of transported being taken without the consent of the owner, conspiracy to take/detain in company with intent to obtain ransom, and driving a motor vehicle during the disqualification period.
The trio were all refused bail and had to appear in court on Saturday.
Two days after Mr Najjar was discharged from Sutherland Hospital, Thirsty Monkey shared a video of him returning to work on Wednesday.
‘Thanks for everyone’s concern, Jacob is doing well and back to work. People are spreading fake news and trying to get some viewers and followers for this app,” the caption read.
‘Thirsty Monkey is not closed and is and always will be safe to visit. We continue with our unbeatable acai, much love to everyone and thank you for the support.’
Mr. Najjar was seen in the video making an acai bowl while speaking into the camera.
“You know how the news is, anything for some clickbait,” he said.
‘Don’t worry about the news, don’t worry about anything. We’re still open and we’re still grinding.”
The TikTokker has opened cafes in Parramatta, Wentworth Point and Marrickville and his business is a hit with locals for its popular acai bowls.
His business TikTok page has more than 20,000 followers, while his personal Instagram account has more than 37,000.
Mr Najjar was once pictured with leading members of the Alameddine crime network.
Ny Breaking Australia suggests no wrongdoing by Mr Najjar.
Jacob Najjar was back at work at the Thirsty Monkey days after he was reportedly kidnapped