A father and son who allegedly staged a kidnapping in Sydney's inner west have faced court after records of their alleged plans were obtained by police.
Sung Sub Kim, 47, and his son Gyu Tae, 21, appeared via videolink at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
Both are charged with publishing false or misleading material to obtain an advantage and false representation resulting in a police investigation.
Police began investigating the alleged kidnapping on Tuesday after receiving information that several threatening text messages had been sent to various members of Sung's family, demanding a ransom of $200,000.
The texts included pictures of a person appearing bound in the back seat of a car with a bag over their head and threats to kill Sung if the ransom was not paid by Wednesday, according to documents tendered in court.
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Sung was found bound and apparently injured near his car on Dean Street, Strathfield South, about 12:30am on Wednesday.
Court papers state police later interviewed Sung and examined his mobile phone, extracting several audio recordings of phone conversations in which the father allegedly planned the kidnapping with his son.
"All these calls were made during the time in which both the accused and co-accused had portrayed to police that the accused had been kidnapped and was in no way able to make phone calls," the court documents state.
Gyu was interviewed several times by police about the incident and, on one occasion, tried to retract his statements as he was "not happy" with the investigation, according to the documents.
Police also obtained booking details and CCTV footage from a motel in Chullora, where Sung allegedly spent the night he was meant to have been held by the kidnappers.
Both Sung and Gyu were arrested at Auburn police station on Friday.
Magistrate Chris McRobert denied Sung bail on Saturday but agreed to release Gyu, saying the father was more likely responsible for the plan.
"It's probably reasonable to assume that his father is the real prime mover," Mr McRobert said.
"I'm prepared to grant a strict conditional bail because I have an impression that this extremely foolish exercise was more likely your father's idea than yours," he told Gyu, who has no criminal record.
Mr McRobert also expressed concern over Sung's involvement in the incident, as he is on bail for other serious offences, including robbery in company and aggravated break and enter.
"The real concern is that this person is on district court bail already," he said.
Gyu was ordered not to see or contact his father until at least their next court appearance on January 11.
