Kidnapped, bound and tortured: hostage escapes amid tense ransom exchange

The 31-year-old victim was tortured, violently assaulted and bound with cable ties during the 12-hour ordeal in Sydney while his brother scrambled to pay the kidnapper's ransom, NSW Police said.

"The men targeted and kidnapped the 31-year-old man for financial gain," police said.

The victim was allegedly kidnapped after he pulled over to make a call while driving through Granville in western Sydney on the evening of November 23.

Police said three men approached the car with bats, bound the victim with cable ties and drove him to a property in St Marys where he was violently assaulted and tortured.

The kidnappers contacted the victim's brother and demanded money, investigators said.

But they allegedly refused to release the hostage after the ransom was paid and demanded more money.

The kidnappers arranged to meet the victim's brother in the southwest Sydney suburb Panania at 5.45am on November 24 to hand over the extra ransom money.

Police said "an altercation took place" during the ransom drop and the victim was able to escape with a black eye, cuts to his head and a deep wound in his hand.

Police arrested three men on December 18 and they were charged over the alleged kidnapping and refused bail.

A 19-year-old man was arrested in Leichhardt by Public Order and Riot Squad police at 7.10am.

He was charged with aggravated assault with the intent to take or drive a motor vehicle while armed with a weapon, taking or detaining in company with the intent to ransom and possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.

He was also charged with three counts of possessing a prohibited drug, possessing or attempting to possess a prescribed restricted substance and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.

A 25-year-old man was arrested at the same time in Kogarah and charged with aggravated assault with the intent to take or drive a motor vehicle while armed with a weapon and taking or detaining in company with intent to ransom.

Police arrested a 19-year-old in Prestons an hour after the other arrests and he was charged with aggravated assault with the intent to take or drive a motor vehicle while armed with a weapon, taking or detaining in company with the intent to ransom and possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.

Their cases remain before the court.