Kidnapping victim 'a renowned steroid dealer', court told

Khalid Naser Slaimankhel, Jen Jay Law and Junior Iolimo Paea, appear at the Auckland High Court. Photo / NZ Herald

A man who drove an alleged kidnapping victim to the Burger King from which he was abducted and then phoned police to alert them to the incident has described his former friend as a "renowned" steroid dealer.

The witness, who has name suppression, testified that he and Marven Yacoub were no longer friends because Mr Yacoub had tried to convince him to sell steroids and sold steroids to his friends.

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

The witness testified he had driven Mr Yacoub to Burger King Mangere but did not go inside with him. Mr Yacoub exited Burger King in the company of two or three large men.

Mr Yacoub approached the car in which the witness was sitting and told him he was going with the men.

The witness said Mr Yacoub had appeared "a bit anxious but nothing out of the ordinary".

Mr Yacoub had left a saddle bag in the witness' car. The witness looked in the bag and found the business card of a police detective with a mobile phone number written on it in pen. He phoned the number and told the police officer who answered what had happened to Mr Yacoub and then drove to his friend's house.

Cross examining the witness, Slaimankhel's counsel Mark Ryan asked if Mr Yacoub sold steroids.

"Oh definitely. He's quite renowned for it," the witness said.

Mr Yacoub denies he concocted his story to ensure he received favourable treatment after being caught by police with a cache of steroids.

He was charged with possessing steroids after a raid on his home on February 4, 2013. A week later the Crown alleges he was kidnapped and forced to swear a false affidavit claiming responsibility for a consignment of green pills found in the boot of a BMW being driven by his former friend Slaimankhel.

Mr Yacoub testified yesterday that he went to the Burger King on February 11, 2013 to buy steroids for personal use from Law. He was instead taken aside by a man who called himself Smokey and two unknown associates.

Smokey, whom he later learned was Paea, took him to a booth and told him he would be taken to a Ponsonby law office to swear an affidavit. During the conversation Paea's associates parted their shirts to reveal gang insignia, Mr Yacoub testified. Paea also threatened his family.

Mr Ryan accused Mr Yacoub of making up the kidnapping story to ensure he would be granted diversion on the steroids charge, meaning he would avoid a conviction.

Mr Ryan pointed to the 90 minutes Mr Yacoub waited before calling police after he had returned home following the alleged kidnapping.

"You sat there and worked out how you can protect your diversion for steroid dealing charges," Mr Ryan said.

"No. I was working out how to protect my family," Mr Yacoub answered.

"I was buying steroids from Jay and Khalid for my personal use so why would I be worried about my diversion?"