59-Year-Old Man Allegedly Kidnapped and Forced to Travel 600 Miles in His Own Car Before Rescue: Report By Kimberlee Speakman

A 59-year-old man was allegedly kidnapped by a group of men and forced to travel more than 600 miles from Adelaide to Sydney, Australia in a dispute over cryptocurrency, according to a report.

The man — who was not identified — had allegedly been threatened and kidnapped by the men at his home in Adelaide in April following confusion over a cryptocurrency payment, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The man reportedly met with the group at a restaurant on April 2 “in relation to a payment of $40,000 to $50,000 in exchange for cryptocurrency from the [alleged] victim’s friend ‘Craig,’” according to a NSW Supreme Court fact sheet obtained by the outlet.

When the payment hadn’t cleared by 10 p.m. the next day, the group went to his home as he was getting into his Lexus car, told him to exit and forced him to transfer $2,600 to an account. The men then allegedly pushed him into the back of his Lexus and attacked him before telling him that they would take him “back to Sydney until this is all sorted,” the Herald reported, citing police.

The man refused and was threatened that if he did not go with the group, they would “beat” him up and “pay a visit” to his wife. He agreed to go with them and got into his Lexus with one of the men, while the others followed in a Mercedes-Benz, per the Herald. 

“The victim feared that he or his family would be significantly harmed if he did not comply with the demands of the accused and his co-accused,” a court fact sheet obtained by the Herald noted. “The accused willingly participated in the above incidents and at no time permitted the victim to leave and made no attempt to assist the victim.”

The man attempted to get help the next day at a gas station rest stop located about 50 miles southeast of Adelaide, per the outlet. He reportedly left the car under the guise of getting the group cigarettes and told the attendant at the shop to call the police, as he had been taken from his home against his will, which began an investigation by New South Wales (NSW) Police.

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Police cameras captured both the Lexus and Mercedes-Benz “travelling at speed” on various roads in NSW. Police eventually intercepted the Mercedes-Benz and arrested the two men in the vehicle. The 59-year-old’s phone was also found in the car, along with $10,000.

Police also intercepted the Lexus shortly after and allegedly found 21-year-old Kitione Mahe — who had previously been wanted by police — in the front passenger’s seat, along with an unnamed accomplice and the 59-year-old man. He reportedly sustained facial injuries and “significant pain to his ribs and chest.”

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“Police submit [Mahe] participated in a joint criminal enterprise … [and] caused grave fears for the victim’s wellbeing and safety,” according to a court fact sheet obtained by the Herald.

PEOPLE has reached out to NSW Police for comment on the incident, but did not immediately receive a response.

Mahe was granted bail with home detention by the judge, according to the outlet. He has not yet entered a plea on the kidnapping charges in court.