REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Monday, May 8, 1989

AN armed gang which kidnapped a Chinese girl from her Benowa home demanded a ransom of $2 million for her release.

Marissa Wong, 10, was taken by three men, understood to be of a Cantonese background, who broke into the Wong family’s Cabana Blvd home.

The gang beat up the home’s owners, Cheukyun and Marianna Wong before tying them up with masking tape. Mr Wong was a Chinese-born businessman.

A member of the gang was armed with a gun while the others had knives. The men took some money and warned the Wongs they should not call the police for at least an hour or they would hurt the girl.

Gold Coast CIB chief, Detective Inspector Ken Martin called a late-night press conference to announce details of the kidnappers, who were believed to have escaped in a blue Volvo.

Police told the media that while the men were believed to be Cantonese, their accents suggested they had been in Australia for some time.

During the intense search, police visited hotels and motels across the city to find the girl.

The kidnappers’ demands for a ransom later dropped to $500,000, then to $200,000.

The girl was later found near a bakery on Tedder Ave after being missing for 20 hours.

The incident was captured for posterity by well-known press photographer Tommy Campion who took a dramatic photograph of police officer Gary Hamrey arresting one of the kidnappers at gunpoint.

The incident is remembered as among the Gold Coast’s most famous crimes.