Woman held hostage by ex for 19 days

Assignment Freelance Picture Abdel-Aziz Hussein Ali was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on
 Friday on multiple charges, including kidnapping, deprivation of liberty and
 assault.  Picture: Social Media
Abdel-Aziz Hussein Ali was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on Friday on multiple charges, including kidnapping, deprivation of liberty and assault. Picture: Social Media

A man who kidnapped a driving instructor as part of his “definite plan” to abduct his ex-girlfriend for a second time has been jailed.

Abdel-Aziz Hussein Ali was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on Friday on multiple charges, including kidnapping, deprivation of liberty and assault.

The 25-year-old man had held his ex-girlfriend against her will for 19 days before she was able to escape while he was out of the house in Acacia Ridge, Brisbane, in April 2022.

Crown prosecutor Zachary Kaplan told the court that Ali had struck the woman, causing her head to bleed, and threatened to “snap her neck” if she called for help.

Assignment Freelance Picture Abdel-Aziz Hussein Ali was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on\n Friday on multiple charges, including kidnapping, deprivation of liberty and\n assault.  Picture: Social Media
Abdel-Aziz Hussein Ali was sentenced on charges including kidnapping, deprivation of liberty and assault. Picture: Social Media

“He violently assaulted her, causing significant injuries over a period of time,” Mr Kaplan said.

The court was also told that Ali refused to let paramedics treat the woman after she called triple-0 because she was having chest pains.

Mr Kaplan said Ali’s mother had come to the house and apologised to the woman, treating her wounds, but still the woman was not allowed to leave.

The court was told whenever Ali left the house, he locked all the doors and closed the curtains on all the windows.

CHILD STEALING
Ali’s family supported the 25-year-old in court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard
BRISBANE COURTS
He was sentenced in Brisbane District Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The woman eventually managed to free herself from the home and returned to her mother's house because Ali still had her phone.

The court was told Ali had developed a plan to recapture the woman on April 16, 2022, the day after she escaped.

Mr Kaplan said Ali had called a driving instructor who was already booked to collect the woman for a driving lesson and told him to come to his house instead.

When the driving instructor arrived, Ali detailed his plan on how he was going to trick the woman.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Terry Gardiner said Ali told the driving instructor the woman had “betrayed you”.

“You outlined to the driving instructor … you would be hiding in the boot of the car and once the driving lesson had started the driver would pull into a service station and you would get out and the instructor would make sure the doors were locked so you could take control,” Judge Gardiner said.

“You would get out with the knife and wrap her limbs and mouth with the tape and you explained to the instructor he would (drive you back to Ali’s home).”

Judge Gardiner said the driving instructor “naturally became frightened” about the plan and tried to drive away but was forced into helping.

Ali told the driver he’d shoot him if he didn’t help, the court was told, saying “you’ll be six foot under if you don’t help me”.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - MAY 26, 2023: General view editorial generic stock image of driver learner L-plates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar
Ali had forced a driving instructor into helping him with his plan. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

The pair then drove to Inala Shopping Centre, where Ali allowed the man to use the bathroom.

The man immediately called his wife who contacted the police.

The court was told Ali was arrested a short time later.

Judge Gardiner said Ali had kidnapped the man for about 30 minutes.

Ali’s barrister, Matt Hynes, told the court that his client had been a user of methamphetamine but had been rehabilitating while in custody.

Mr Hynes said immediate parole would be an appropriate sentence.

“Parole is the right order for him, it’s those courses and the way he conducts himself is the real test of the man,” he said.

Judge Gardiner sentenced Ali to four years in jail, taking into account the 13 months he’s been in custody.

He also ordered that Ali be eligible for parole on Friday.

“This is a serious example of deprivation of liberty and kidnapping albeit for a short time, but you had a definite plan in mind in respect of the female complainant,” Judge Gardiner said.