Claiming he was an undercover police officer, Yousif Elias whipped a homeless teen with an electrical cord and threatened to kill him after an argument about drugs.
The 19-year-old victim had exchanged a Xanax tablet for cocaine in a deal with Elias in April 2020 and a day later Elias had a change of heart.
Along with his friend Alula Tegegne, he made plans to meet their young victim, who they had met while trying to buy drugs.
Elias and Tegegne, also both 19, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and assault on Thursday over the May 1, 2020 incident which left their victim with flashbacks and a distrust of people.
The victim contacted another person to sell cocaine to Elias, but that person left when Elias was unable to pay.
Elias and Tegegne then pushed the teen along a Melbourne CBD street and into an underground car park.
Once out of sight, the victim was thrown to the ground and punched and kicked by Elias. When he stood up he was knocked down again by a kick to the head from Elias.
Both Elias and Tegegne filmed the assault on their phones, prosecutor Damien Hannan told Victoria's County Court.
Elias told the victim he was an undercover police officer who had been investigating him for months.
"You're going to come in the car with me and you're not leaving my sight until you give me two bags of ice," he told the victim.
Elias whipped the teen with an electrical cable before picking up a fire extinguisher and threatening to kill him with it. Tegegne put his arms out and said "don't".
Both men escorted the victim on to a tram and a train to Footscray, where they asked him to withdraw money from a bank branch.
COVID-19 rules meant only the victim was allowed inside and he told a teller he was being held hostage.
Elias and Tegegne fled when police arrived, but officers - noticing the victim appeared drug affected - did not investigate.
The victim made a statement in July 2020 and it was only more than a week later when footage of the attack was obtained through an unrelated search that Elias and Tegegne were arrested.
Tegegne is a New Zealander who faces deportation to a country where he has no family supports, his lawyer Sai Ranjit told a pre-sentence hearing.
The hearing will continue later this month.
Australian Associated Press
