Family wait for closure for kidnapped grandfather
The family of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, who was abducted from his Sydney home in what police say was clearly a case of mistaken identity, say they are living a nightmare as they wait for some kind of closure.
The widower, who lived alone, was taken from the bedroom of his North Ryde property at around 5am on Friday, prompting police to lay charges directly against the kidnappers who they believed had kidnapped the wrong person.
“Our family is living a nightmare we never thought possible,” said a statement released by NSW Police on Tuesday.
“Chris being kidnapped feels surreal and we are trying to make sense of the fact that he was kidnapped and our family was involved in something that had nothing to do with us.”
Baghsarian’s family said he was much loved and was a devoted father, brother, uncle and grandfather.
“He is the kindest person we know; someone who wouldn’t hurt a fly,” the family said.
“We ask for privacy while we await some type of closure or resolution.
“This is an extraordinarily troubling time and we need space to support each other and focus on navigating what comes next.”
Police have found signs of forced entry at a North Ryde home and are investigating whether the intended target was a person linked to the Alameddine organized crime ring who lives nearby.
Video has since emerged of an injured Baghsarian at an unknown location.
Baghsarian is seen in the video wearing the gray tracksuit pants and flannel shirt he was wearing when he was kidnapped.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said it was a shameful incident and called on the kidnappers to return Baghsarian to his family.
“This is clearly a case of mistaken identity,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
“This certainly shows the disrespect that those involved in organized crime have for individuals.”
“You’ve got the wrong person,” Lanyon said.
Prime Minister Chris Minns also called for Baghsarian’s return
Cases of mistaken identity are increasingly common in Sydney’s underworld, as contractors are recruited to commit crimes on behalf of larger organized crime networks.
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
