|
A 39-year old Australian man, arrested last Friday in southern Thailand, is awaiting extradition to face charges of kidnapping and extortion after being transferred to a detention centre in the Thai capital.
John Leary faces criminal charges in New South Wales after allegedly kidnapping his now three-year-old daughter in October last year and travelling to Asia and later demanding $A1.5 million from his former wife in Sydney. Leary had been traced to the resort island of Phuket through mobile telephone calls he made to his former wife in the bid to extort the money. He was arrested by more than 10 Thai Immigration Police as well as Australian embassy officials about 7pm on Friday at the three star, $A360 a week resort hotel and guest house where he had been staying with his daughter since mid January. Thai Immigration Police in Bangkok told AAP that immigration officials were awaiting a new passport to be presented to the detention centre before Leary could be transferred back to Australia. Leary's American-born former wife, who won custody of the daughter in a divorce settlement, is reported to have travelled to Thailand to be reunited with her daughter. Her whereabouts are unknown and she has made no statements to the media. Australian embassy officials said only that consular assistance was being provided to Leary and his former wife and daughter.
 |
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
