Former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill was kidnapped and held for ramson by some men. The incident happened on April 14 but came to light later.
As per reports, the 50-year-old former leg-spinner was allegedly abducted from near his home in Sydney on April 14 and taken to another part of the city where he was beaten and threatened with a gun.
Later, the kidnappers drove him to the Belmore area of Sydney city. They released him after an hour. The incident was reported to the police two days later.
“About 8p.m. on Wednesday 14 April 2021, a 50-year-old man was allegedly confronted by a 46-year-old man (in) Cremorne,” New South Wales Police said in a statement that did not identify the victim.
“A short time later the pair were approached by two other men, forcing the older man into a vehicle. He was then driven to a property at Bringelly, where the two men, plus another unknown man, allegedly assaulted the 50-year-old man and threatened him with a firearm. About an hour later, the man was driven to the Belmore area and released.”
Police said the incident had been reported on April 20, prompting an investigation by the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad.
“Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives, with assistance from Raptor Squad and the Public Order and Riot Squad, arrested four men – aged 27, 29, 42 and 46 – from 6 am today (Wednesday 5 May 2021),” police said in a statement.
Police also informed that officers are in the process of searching the accused’s homes.
“The men were taken to local police stations where charges are expected to be laid. Officers are currently in the process of executing search warrants at homes at Sutherland, Caringbah, Brighton Le-Sands, Banksia and Marrickville.”
MacGill was a talented leg-spinner whose Test career was slightly stymied by virtue of him playing during the same period as the great Shane Warne.
He also played three one-day internationals for Australia during a cricket career spanning 19 years before his retirement from the sport in 2012. He took 208 wickets in 44 Test matches for Australia between 1998 and 2008.