An advertising executive who police allege masterminded the kidnapping of Stuart MacGill has been told he must enter pleas when he next appears in court.
Son Minh Nguyen was one of four men arrested in dawn raids on May 6 last year for allegedly abducting and bashing the test cricketer over a failed cocaine deal.
Police say MacGill had no knowledge of the cocaine deal which allegedly triggered the violent ordeal.
MacGill, who played 44 Tests for Australia, was allegedly forced into a car at Cremorne on April 14, 2021, and then taken to a remote property at Bringelly, on Sydney’s southwestern outskirts.
Police allege he was dumped an hour later in Belmore.
Almost a year to the day since his arrest, Mr Nguyen faced Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday where Magistrate Susan Horan expected him to enter pleas.
However, his lawyer told the court pleas are not ready to be entered after his firm’s office was “decimated by Covid”.
“This is the sixth case conference mention, I’ve marked it as must proceed,” Ms Horan said.
“I will give it a week and see how you can progress it … it must proceed.”
At an earlier court hearing, Crown prosecutors alleged Nguyen was near the kidnap site an hour prior to the alleged abduction and continued to level threats against MacGill afterwards.
Nguyen was charged with detaining for advantage, accessory after the fact to detaining for advantage, possessing an unauthorised firearm (a gel blaster) and knowingly directing activities of a criminal group.
Last year, the executive’s family put forward $430,000 in surety to guarantee he will remain under strict bail conditions.
He is not allowed to contact MacGill and cannot enter Neutral Bay, where the bowler runs a restaurant.
Nguyen will reappear in court next week.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7zZqroqeelrlwutKwZJqbpGSwsMHRrapmpJGsfK6tzWaYnJulqLKlec6fZKaZo6mys7nIp5uippdiwLXBwKurZqWRmLSquMtmoqKcnpa9sbXNoGSgoaaau26wxJqbpaGemnyvsdasZKysn6fGcITFnWdynWJnsHiFlnKZnG9pan56r8BpaZtraZZ%2BcbDC