BOY’S DAD RETURNS

THE father of a 12-year-old boy snatched from a Gold Coast street was back at the family’s Isle of Capri mansion last night after jetting in from China. The concerned dad’s arrival came as police issued a public appeal for help in tracing a second man believed to have been involved in the kidnapping. Police allege the mystery man was with former Chinese soldier Zhen Jie Zhang when the boy was kidnapped on Friday. Zhang appeared in court on several charges yesterday and was denied bail. Defence lawyer Mollie Roper said Zhang would contest a number of the charges.

THE father of a 12-year-old boy snatched from a Mudgeeraba street flew back to the Gold Coast from China last night. The boy’s dad was staying at the family’s Isle of Capri mansion as police continued trying to piece together the horrifying events of last Friday and Saturday. Officers yesterday issued a public appeal for help in tracing a second man alleged to have taken part in the abduction. The man is believed to have been responsible for putting a bag over the 12-year-old boy’s head and dragging him into a car in front of his Mudgeeraba home. Revelations of a mystery accomplice came in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday when a man allegedly found with the Somerset College student in Grafton on Saturday, Sydney resident and former Chinese soldier Zhen Jie Zhang, appeared on several charges and was denied bail. Police allege Zhang was at the wheel of an SUV while the accomplice seized and restrained the child. The unknown accomplice has been described as a younger, slim male of Asian appearance. Zhang, a former Gold Coast resident, was charged with kidnapping for ransom, torture and deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm, and two counts of extortion. Zhang did not speak during proceedings and was assisted by a Mandarin interpreter. He will reappear in court on June 5. Magistrate Joan White said Zhang posed an unacceptable flight risk. “These are very serious offences, the prosecution has a strong case,” she said. The court was told that in an interview with NSW police, the boy allegedly identified Zhang as one of his kidnappers. “It appears you have been identified by the child, and not a young child but as an older one and as someone who is known to him,” she said. Defence lawyer Mollie Roper said Zhang would contest a number of the charges. Ms Roper said the man had no criminal history in Australia or any other country. “He returns (to China) only to visit his elderly and unwell parents,” Ms Roper said. Zhang, who has an adult son and an ex-wife in Australia, moved to Sydney eight years ago and lives as an Australian resident. Police yesterday appealed for public help in identifying the accomplice. At a press conference at Burleigh Heads police station, an officer fluent in Cantonese appealed for information from the Chinese community. Gold Coast CIB Detective Inspector Marc Hogan said it was up to the public to come forward to help as police needed strong leads to identify the second man. “Police will allege this person was the person who got out of vehicle, grabbed the boy, placing that boy in the vehicle, then the vehicle departed,” Insp Hogan said. The boy, who was treated for minor scratches after his 20-hour ordeal, is said to be recovering. It is understood he is well enough to attend school.