Tenant is held hostage and attacked ‘by two men because he was unable to pay rent due to COVID-19’
- Tenant was allegedly assaulted and held hostage at Sydney terrace for back-rent
- The 24-year-old told police he suffered financial problems due to the COVID-19
- Police arrested and charged two men in connection to Wednesday’s incident
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A tenant who fell behind on his rent during the coronavirus pandemic was allegedly assaulted and held hostage until he made the outstanding payments.
The 24-year-old man and his friend arrived at a rental property on Clifton Reserve, in Surry Hills, Sydney’s inner city, at about 3.30pm on Wednesday.
The 56-year-old owner met them at the property with another man in toe who allegedly proceeded to threaten the tenant over his unpaid rent.
The 24-year-old man and his friend arrived at a rental property on Clifton Reserve, in Surry Hills, Sydney’s inner city, at about 3.30pm on Wednesday. Pictured: Surry Hills
Police allege the renter was assaulted and held hostage until he paid the outstanding amount in full.
The tenant and his friend were freed when he transferred the cash across and went straight to Surry Hills Police Station to report the incident.
The renter told police he owed back-payments after suffering financial problems due to the COVID-19 crisis but believed he’d negotiated a payment plan with the owner.
Police arrested the property owner, a 56-year-old man, at about 10.30pm on Wednesday night.
He was charged with detain person for advantage and refused bail to appear in Central Local Court on Thursday, where he was conditionally bailed to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on August 13.
His 57-year-old accomplice was arrested after he took himself to Surry Hills Police Station at about 5pm on Thursday.
He was charged with take/detain in company with intent to obtain advantage occasioning actual bodily harm and was refused bail to appear in Central Local Court on Friday.
A tenant was allegedly assaulted and held hostage because he was unable to pay his rent due to the coronavirus pandemic (stock image)