Kidnapped bodybuilder shown death threat text

Khalid Slaimankhel.

A bodybuilder who was allegedly kidnapped and forced to "take the rap" over a drug deal was shown a text message suggesting he would be killed, a court has heard.

Marven Yacoub testified that he had been taken from a South Auckland Burger King against his will by a man called Smokey and two unknown gang associates to a law office in Ponsonby. At the law office he was coerced into swearing a false affidavit to be submitted during a bail hearing for his friend, fellow body builder Khalid Slaimankhel.

Part-way through swearing the affidavit, Slaimankhel and Smokey left the room. When they returned Slaimankhel showed Mr Yacoub a text that read: "I want Marven dead."

Slaimankhel, Junior Iolimo Paea and Jen Jay Law face a charge of kidnapping at the High Court at Auckland. Slaimankhel and Paea also face a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Yacoub testified that he was frightened and in shock after being lured to Burger King Mangere for a meeting with Law to buy steroids only to be met by Smokey and his two associates. When he saw Law was not at the Burger King he tried to leave but was instead ushered to a booth by Smokey, who told him he had been "killing my business".

"You f***** up and you are going to take the rap for this," Smokey said to Mr Yacoub.

Mr Yacoub was told he would be taken to a lawyer's office where he would make a statement accepting responsibility for pills found by police in Slaimankhel's possession.

Mr Yacoub refused and was told by Smokey that he knew where he lived and the identity of his friends and family.

The court was shown CCTV footage from the Burger King of Mr Yacoub meeting with the three men and of all four leaving together.

Mr Yacoub testified that he was taken to the office of Slaimankhel's lawyer, Isaac Koya. Slaimankhel whispered what to say in his ear while Mr Koya used his computer to record the statement. Several times during the process Mr Koya laughed and said "let the boy speak".

Smokey continued to threaten him while he made the statement, telling him repeatedly in a low, aggressive voice that he had "been a naughty boy".

"It kept going through my mind that he knew where my family were," Mr Yacoub testified.

Slaimankhel's defence counsel Mark Ryan accused Mr Yacoub of being a drug dealer.

"That's what you are Mr Yacoub you are a drug dealer, correct?" Mr Ryan said during cross examination.

"No." Mr Yacoub said.

Mr Yacoub denied selling steroids but said he had bought them off Slaimankhel and Law.
Mr Ryan pointed out that Mr Yacoub had admitted in a previous trial he had sold steroids before.

"Can you give me any reason why there's a difference in your evidence before this jury and what you told a previous jury?" Mr Ryan asked.

"I don't have to answer that," Mr Yacoub replied.

"Can you explain why you told one jury something on oath and yet you've told a different version to this jury on oath?" Mr Ryan asked.

"I don't have to answer that."

"So you are still selling steroids and supplying steroids, aren't you Mr Yacoub?"

"I don't have to answer that," Mr Yacoub said.