Shocking $50 Million Ransom Demand in Sydney Kidnapping Case
An unverified $50 million ransom demand from the suspected kidnappers of an elderly Sydney man includes a chilling threat to 'off him' if the intended targets refuse to pay. The exchange on WhatsApp, obtained by the SCN Worldstar channel, appears to confirm the kidnappers abducted the wrong person, with the respondents bluntly stating: 'your team is f*** s**t. You plugged the wrong bloke.'
Disturbing Details of the Abduction
Chris Baghsarian, an 85-year-old grandfather, was forcibly taken from his North Ryde home by two male kidnappers at 5am last Friday. Gruesome video allegedly shows him being tortured by having a finger severed from one of his hands. Police have reportedly obtained disturbing footage of Mr Baghsarian bound, gagged, and bloodied, according to 9 News reports.
Authorities and loved ones hold grave fears for Mr Baghsarian's safety and believe the kidnappers targeted the wrong person, given that he and his family have no criminal connections. The terse WhatsApp conversation allegedly between kidnappers using the handle 'PLAY4KEEPS' and the intended targets of the ransom demand appears to confirm this police theory.
Family's Desperate Pleas for Release
The situation has prompted Mr Baghsarian's cousin, Arthur Hagopian, to break his silence, revealing he begged police to let him leave essential medication at a drop-off point for the kidnappers to collect. He also directly appealed to the kidnappers: 'Turn him loose! He is an old man, ailing and suffering. He won't remember anything.'
In a series of Facebook posts, Mr Hagopian detailed his unsuccessful attempts to deliver urgent medication, with police deeming the suggestion too risky. He shared that Mr Baghsarian moved to Australia from the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem for a better life, originally planning to live in Adelaide before choosing Sydney instead.
The WhatsApp Exchange That Reveals Everything
The WhatsApp exchange, believed to have taken place over the weekend, begins with the respondent abusing the abductors: 'Dumb dumb error. How did use get the wrong house? Dumb.' Subsequent messages confirm the kidnappers had intended to target the father of the respondent when they wrongly took Mr Baghsarian.
The respondent wrote: 'God was with you. My old man would of blown your head off. Good luck next time. You f*** dopes ... Better luck next time. F*** you.'
PLAY4KEEPS replied with the threat: 'So u don't want him back do I off him? Enuf games.' When asked about the ransom amount, they demanded '50 mill,' to which the respondent retorted: 'I spend that change in 12 months. Thought you'd ask for 100+. Good luck. Your team is f*** s**t. You plugged the wrong bloke.'
The kidnappers responded with further threats: 'Look b4 u msg back don't go back n forth. Us reading will twist n harm ur oldman some more. Consider that and consider this. Play any games and we'll make u pay ... Remember this when u n ur FAM cop it.'
Police Investigation and Community Response
NSW Police have urged whoever kidnapped Mr Baghsarian to safely return him to his family. CCTV footage aired on Channel Nine at the weekend showed two men, one in a high-visibility top, alight from a dark-coloured 4WD last Friday morning and approach the man's home. The grainy video shows the men pushing the 85-year-old toward the car before driving away.
Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks said on Monday he believed Mr Baghsarian was still alive and that the men had kidnapped the wrong person, but were yet to release him. The Armenian community in Sydney has expressed solidarity with the family, with Mr Hagopian adding: 'The Armenian community here shares the agony of his son and daughter. But there is nothing on earth anyone can do, until by some miracle, the kidnappers have a change of heart, if they even possess one, and release him.'
Mr Baghsarian's first job in Australia was as a painter in Sydney, his cousin revealed, sharing nostalgic photos of the elderly man with family members and friends from his earlier years in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem.
