POLICE have charged four men over an alleged kidnapping in the Hunter earlier this year, in which a man was reportedly pulled into a vehicle before being drugged and assaulted.
Port Stephens-Hunter police on Wednesday morning announced they arrested the men - most recently a 26-year-old at one of the state's jails last week and charged him with kidnapping in company with intent to cause indictable actual bodily harm.
Seven other fresh counts, including driving and weapons charges, were also levelled at him over other alleged incidents, police said.
He has been refused bail and will face Newcastle Local Court on October 24.
Police launched an investigation after a 38-year-old man was allegedly forced into a vehicle early on February 27 at Rutherford, before he was taken to a premises at Metford where he was allegedly drugged and assaulted before he was released.
The man was treated at Maitland Hospital for facial injuries, bruising, lacerations, and a stab wound to his leg.
Police formed Strike Force Halule to investigate.
They arrested a 53-year-old man at Metford on July 2 and charged him with taking/detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage and cause actual bodily harm, and using an intoxicating substance to commit an indictable offence. He remains behind bars and will face Newcastle Local Court on August 28.
Investigators then arrested a 35-year-old man at Cameron Park on July 8 and charged him with the same counts as the 53-year-old. He has been refused bail ahead of his next appearance at court in Newcastle on September 11.
And a 32-year-old man was arrested at Maryland on July 22 and charged with kidnapping in company with intent to cause serious indictable actual bodily harm. He is also on remand and is expected to face Newcastle Local Court on September 11.
