Four men accused of kidnapping have appeared in court, following a series of police raids yesterday.
Liam John Kane, 24, Benjamin Paul Dwyer, 28, Sam Wiremu Rolleston, 23, and Brent Anthony Gunning, 35, appeared before three JPs today in the Rotorua District Court. All men are from the Western Bay of Plenty region.
They have been jointly charged with two counts of kidnapping, using a pistol to kidnap, participating in an organised criminal group knowing there was an aim to commit a serious violent offence, and robbery of $10,000. One of the kidnapping charges relates to an abduction of a man from a property in Rotorua.
Gunning and Dwyer also face a joint charge of robbery of a mobile phone.
The alleged offending took place on February 16 and 17.
Bail was opposed by the Crown but no application was made but the men's lawyers.
They were remanded in custody without plea to reappear before a judge on March 26.