Two young Chinese nationals have walked free from court after police sensationally dropped kidnapping and extortion charges.
Moqi Deng, 23, and Huiming Zhou, 22, spoke excitedly with friends after the short hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
In August, Victoria Police revealed the pair would face charges over an alleged extortion plot earlier the same month after a 22-year-old woman raised concerns a male friend, 19, was being held hostage.
She allegedly claimed he had contacted her over WeChat saying he was being held by “armed men” who demanded $200,000.
A police spokeswoman said officers attended a Melbourne CBD apartment at 1.20am on August 19, locating the teenager without incident.
Within two weeks six Chinese men would be arrested over the alleged plot, with Mr Deng and Mr Zhou charged with offences including false imprisonment, attempted armed robbery, common law assault, unlawful assault, extortion and blackmail.
Four others, aged between 21 and 27, were released pending further inquiries, police said at the time.
But at their second appearance in court, a police prosecutor requested all charges be withdrawn against Mr Deng and Mr Zhou.
This was approved by Magistrate Andrew McKenna, who was told the complainant – the alleged victim – was now “overseas”.
In a statement, Victoria Police said the charges were dropped because the “complainant withdrew their complaint”.