Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Wednesday, Apr 01, 2026

Australia Man Fakes Kidnapping To Spend Time With Lover, Arrested

Australia Man Fakes Kidnapping To Spend Time With Lover, Arrested

The investigation cost the police force over $25,000 and 100 to 200 hours of wasted time.
They say love knows no boundaries and a lot of people agree with this. We have come across instances when lovebirds go to any extent to spend time with each other. From bunking tuition to lying to parents, most of us have done it all. Didn't we? But this man from Australia decided to talk things a notch higher. He came up with the idea to fake his own kidnapping so that he can spend time with his girlfriend instead of his partner.

According to a report by LAD Bible, a 35-year-old man, identified as Paul Iera, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly making a false accusation and representation that led to a costly and time-consuming investigation.

According to police prosecutor Sergeant Kate McKinley, the investigation cost the government and the police force over $25,000 and 100-200 hours of wasted time.

Mr Iera had reportedly left his home on New Year's Eve, telling his partner he was going to meet a "financial guy" in Dapto. His partner received a latenight text message from a sex worker who claimed that he had been kidnapped. The text message reportedly stated that the kidnappers would release Mr Iera in the morning in exchange for his bike.

The text message reportedly said: "'[Partner] it's ‘[name]' thank you for sending Paul to me, now payback is a b**** bye bye. But I'm going to be fair OK, we will keep him with us until the morning when (sic) he gives us his bike we call it square, no one's touching him my word I'll give you hun OK.”

Following this, according to reports, Mr Iera's partner contacted the police after receiving a text message from a sex worker claiming that Mr Iera had been kidnapped and was being held hostage for his $7,000 dirt bike. 

The police immediately launched an investigation, searching through hours of CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses. However, during the investigation, Mr Iera was allegedly seen on camera entering the home of his lover with an overnight bag between the times the texts were sent, the report added. 

In a statement, the police confirmed that Mr Iera had fabricated the story of his own kidnapping. It was also revealed in court that Mr Iera had called his father the day after the supposed kidnapping to say he would be left in his car by his captors.

Further investigation revealed that the calls were made from Dapto, not Wollongong where Mr Iera claimed to have been kidnapped.

During his court appearance, Paul Iera's mother, sister, and partner were present. The case was described by the magistrate as "quite bizarre" and Mr Iera was granted bail. He is expected to return to court later this month.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Engages Saudi Crown Prince in Talks on Potential Iran Ceasefire
Saudi Arabia’s Sadara Suspends Operations as Supply Chain Disruptions Intensify
Saudi Arabia Accelerates Energy Shift by Trading Oil Revenues for Battery Investments
Saudi Arabia Introduces Flexible Options for Expired Visas Amid Regional Disruptions
Online Narratives Surge as Iran–US Tensions Spill Into Digital Arena Following Trump Remarks
Saudi Arabia Urges Trump to Seize Strategic Moment as UAE Weighs Ground Deployment
Saudi Arabia Redirects Nearly One Million Barrels of Oil Daily Away from Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Arabia Carries Out Execution of Businessman Linked to 2011 Qatif Unrest
Ukraine–Saudi Defense Pact Signals Rising Demand for Battlefield Expertise
Saudi Arabia Balances Diplomacy and Defense Preparedness Amid Iran Conflict
Iran Conflict Reshapes Strategic Calculations in U.S.-Saudi Relations
Saudi Arabia Voices Caution as Trump’s Assertive War Strategy Reshapes Regional Dynamics
Saudi Arabia Updates Travel Advisory as Regional Conflict Intensifies
Saudi Arabia’s Sadara Suspends Petrochemical Production as Conflict Disrupts Operations
Iran Urges Saudi Arabia to Remove US Forces Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Gulf Allies Urge Trump to Sustain Campaign Until Iran Is Fully Defeated
Saudi Arabia Unveils Strategic Rail Freight Corridors Connecting Gulf Ports to Jordan
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drones and Ballistic Missiles in Major Defensive Operation
Houthi Escalation Opens New Front in Expanding Iran-Linked Conflict
Major Saudi Chemical Plant Halts Operations Amid Regional Conflict Disruptions
Strike on US Radar Aircraft in Saudi Arabia Signals Escalating Threat Capabilities
US Citizens in Saudi Arabia Advised to Shelter Indoors Amid Rising Regional Tensions
How Britain’s Prime Minister Controls U.S. Bomber Access in Escalating Iran Conflict
Saudi Arabia Urges Trump to Lead Strategic Reset in Middle East as UAE Weighs Ground Role
Reed Smith Expands Saudi Presence with Senior Corporate Appointments
Trump Announces Approval of F-35 Fighter Jet Sale to Saudi Arabia
BBC Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations of Paid Content Linked to Saudi Arabia
Ukraine Secures Defense Agreements with Qatar and Saudi Arabia as UAE Talks Advance
Oil Prices Surge as Saudi Arabia Adjusts Supply Amid Escalating Iran Tensions
Saudi Arabia Condemns Attacks on Kurdistan Leaders and Reaffirms Backing for Iraq’s Stability
Saudi Arabia Weighs Strategic Interests as Iran Conflict Raises Regional Stakes
Severe Thunderstorms Sweep Across UAE and Saudi Arabia Bringing Heavy Rainfall
Trump’s Strategic Alignment with Saudi Arabia Reflects Expanding Economic and Diplomatic Synergy
Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Attacks on Presidential Residences in Hawler
Saudi Stocks Edge Lower as Tadawul Index Closes Slightly Down
Houthis Enter Expanding Iran Conflict as US Deploys Additional Troops
Iran Seeks Assurances for Regional Allies as Saudi Arabia Presses for Firm Security Guarantees
Iranian Strike Reportedly Destroys $270 Million US E-3 Sentry Aircraft at Saudi Air Base
Iranian Strike on Saudi Base Leaves Ten American Personnel Injured
Ukraine Claims Russia Shared Satellite Intelligence with Iran Ahead of Saudi Base Strike
Pakistan Engages Regional Powers in Diplomatic Talks Over Iran Conflict
Escalating Iran Conflict Brings Renewed Focus to US Military Presence in Saudi Arabia
Iranian Strike Targets Saudi Airbase, Damaging Key US Military Assets
Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Emphasise Secure Shipping Routes in Talks on West Asia Conflict
Dallas-Based Company Secures One Billion Dollar Hotel Development Deal in Saudi Arabia
Zelensky Secures Defence Cooperation Deals with Gulf States During Strategic Regional Tour
Trump Calls on Saudi Arabia to Join Abraham Accords in Push for Expanded Middle East Cooperation
Trump Balances Humor and Praise in Remarks on Saudi Crown Prince
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Pipeline Reaches Seven Million Barrel Capacity to Bypass Hormuz
Rubio Signals U.S. Could Conclude Iran Conflict Within Weeks as Air Campaign Intensifies
×