The 46-year-old brother of former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill’s restaurateur girlfriend is one of four men arrested over his kidnapping at gunpoint last month.
Police allege that Marino Sotiropoulos confronted the former cricket star near his home in Cremorne around 8pm on April 14.
Sotiropoulos is the brother of Maria O’Meagher, MacGill’s current girlfriend. MacGill and O’Meagher run the Aristotle Greek restaurant together in Neutral Bay.
O’Meagher previously owned Dee Why bar, The Crazy Donkey, with her brother, who is now in police custody. The bar has since closed down.
Police allege that after being confronted by Sotiropoulos, the pair were approached by two other men who allegedly forced the older man into a vehicle.
“He was then driven to a property at Bringelly, where the two men, plus another unknown man, allegedly assaulted the 50-year-old man and threatened him with a firearm,” NSW Police said in a statement today.
“About an hour later, the man was driven to the Belmore area and released.”
The incident was not reported to police until April 20.
“Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad were notified and subsequently commenced an investigation under Strike Force Cain,” Police said.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives, with assistance from Raptor Squad and the Public Order and Riot Squad, arrested four men from today.
A 27-year-old man was arrested at Caringbah, while a 29-year-old man was arrested at Sutherland.
“The men were taken to Sutherland Police Station and both charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm,” Police said.
A 46-year-old man was arrested at Brighton Le Sands, while a 42-year-old man was arrested at Banksia.
“The older man was charged with take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).”
“The younger man was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group and take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm.”
All four men were refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court today.
