Strange new twist in Stuart MacGill’s kidnapping
One of the men arrested over the kidnapping of Stuart MacGill three weeks ago has been identified as the brother of the cricketer’s former partner.
MacGill was abducted in an alleged targeted kidnapping and extortion attempt outside his home in Sydney’s lower north shore.
Police allege a man known to MacGill confronted him at around 8pm on April 14 before two more men arrived, forced him into a car, and drove him over 60km away.
Police also allege MacGill was driven to a property in Bringelly where a fourth man joined the alleged kidnapping and the cricketer was assaulted and threatened with a firearm. Then he was driven to Belmore an hour later and released.
The man known to him is allegedly Marino Sotiopoulos, the brother of MacGill’s recent partner Maria O’Meagher.
Sotiropoulos was arrested along with three other men - Son Minh Nguyen and brothers Frederick and Richard Schaaf - on Wednesday.
Sotiropoulos was charged with participating in a criminal group and supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.
MacGill currently works at Greek eatery Aristotle’s in Neutral Bay as a general manager and has recently been in a relationship with former owner of the restaurant O’Meagher.
Sotiropoulos is also listed on business records as a former owner of the eatery.
Police have confirmed MacGill reported the incident on April 20, adding he did not owe the men money.
“The delay in reporting was due to the significant fear instilled in the man,” detective acting superintendent Anthony Holten said.
“Everyone experiences trauma differently.”
Holten continued, saying that anyone who had been in MacGill’s shoes would “be pretty worried for your own personal safety and the safety of your family and friends.”
Police will be “closely monitoring” MacGill’s welfare, with officers visiting him on May 6 to check on him and update him on the outcome of the arrests.