6 Charged, 2 Wanted in Alleged Kidnapping, Assault at Toronto-Area Karaoke Bar

6 Charged, 2 Wanted in Alleged Kidnapping, Assault at Toronto-Area Karaoke Bar
A logo at the Toronto Police Services headquarters in Toronto, in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov)
Jennifer Cowan
Updated:
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Six men are in custody and two others remain at large following an incident at a Scarborough, Ont., karaoke bar where a victim was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted before being abandoned in a remote location with serious injuries, city police say.
The Toronto Police Service dispatched officers to the intersection of Midland and Sheppard avenues on July 19, after receiving a call about a kidnapping that had occurred the day before, police said in an Aug. 9 press release.

The victim was allegedly lured into an establishment in the area and was “held against their will for several hours by eight men,” police said. While being held captive, the victim was assaulted and their banking and personal information was stolen.

After allegedly stealing funds from the victim’s bank accounts, the victim was “dropped off in a remote area,” where they were able to seek assistance and call police, the authorities said.

The victim was subsequently transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police have not released the name, age, or gender of the victim. It is not known if any of the six men charged were acquainted with the victim. They face a total of 30 charges in connection with the incident.

Toronto resident Yongtao Zou, 21, and Zhijian Wang, 29, of Markham face conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, forcible confinement, robbery with an offensive weapon, aggravated assault, extortion, kidnapping, theft of a credit card, possession of property obtained by crime, and theft charges.

Markham resident Ziqian Wang, 25, has been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, forcible confinement, robbery with an offensive weapon, and extortion while 23-year-old Baodan Luo of Thornhill, faces charges of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, robbery with an offensive weapon, accessory after the fact and obstructing a peace officer.

Zitong Zhao, 20, of Toronto, and Zhengyu Wei, 20, of Markham were charged with accessory after the fact and obstructing a peace officer.

All six men appeared in a Toronto courtroom last month for bail hearings. Police did not say if any of them had been released back into the community.
Toronto Police investigators are seeking information about two male suspects in a kidnapping and assault last month at a local karaoke bar. (Toronto Police/Handout photo)
Toronto Police investigators are seeking information about two male suspects in a kidnapping and assault last month at a local karaoke bar. (Toronto Police/Handout photo)
Investigators with 42 Division’s Major Crime Unit are also seeking the public’s help in identifying two additional male suspects.

The first suspect was wearing a camouflage baseball hat, black jacket, black and white Nike shoes, and grey pants.

The second man was wearing a black sweater, black pants with white writing on the right leg, black and white shoes, and a black balaclava.

Anyone with information about either suspect is asked to call Toronto Police.