Men tortured with hot wax: court

Three men kidnapped during an alleged drug deal were tortured with hot wax and
cigarette lighters, a court has been told.
The trio was kept under control with a bottle of acid and taken to four locations,
the Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.
Two alleged kidnappers were in possession of meat cleavers and told their hostages:
"We'll cut you up you dirty c***s, dogs", prosecutors allege.
The court on Wednesday was told that the three hostages - released on Tuesday after
being kidnapped on January 1 and 2 - still fear for their own and their families'
safety.
Seven people appeared in court on Wednesday facing charges including kidnapping.
Prosecutor Katherine Linzner on Wednesday told the court that Daniel Lindsay Best,
31, of St Albans, and Adam Gray, 29, of Thomastown, gave a man $13,000 in exchange
for 1000 ecstasy tablets last Friday evening.
The man left two friends as collateral and said he was going to get the tablets, the
court was told.
When he did not return within 30 minutes Best, Gray and mother-of-two Melissa Knight
kidnapped the two remaining men, driving them off in a van, Ms Linzner said.
"Throughout the day, the hostages were driven around to several different places by
the accused Best and Gray," she said.
"They were tied up and threatened with a firearm and also with a bottle of acid in
order to keep them under control."
The next day, the kidnappers went to the home of a third man and kidnapped him, the
court was told.
Police arrested five people early on Tuesday morning, finding firearms in a van and
a car.
They then freed two hostages from a St Albans home and a third from another location.
"During the period of detainment, the hostages were physically assaulted and forced
to assault each other," Ms Linzner said.
"They were also tortured - which included having hot wax poured over them and burnt
with a lighter."
One of the hostages sustained a broken nose and all had cuts and abrasions, she said.
Two of them were admitted to hospital.
Best, Gray and Matt Smith, 23, of Altona, did not apply for bail and were remanded
to appear in court on March 31.
Knight, Mohi Tamati, 22, of Hoppers Crossing; his brother Johdan Tamati, 19, of
Hoppers Crossing; and Timothy Falla, 23, of Hoppers Crossing have applied for bail.
Their bail application continues on Thursday.