A COURT has heard that a man who owed up to £100k in drug debt was kidnapped and imprisoned.

Five men are on trial at Reading Crown Court charged with various counts including conspiracy to blackmail, kidnap, and false imprisonment.

It is alleged that some of them kidnapped and imprisoned Mr Khan and his friend Mr Nys after he failed to pay a drug debt that was started by his friend.

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The trial started on Monday (July 31) and is expected to last about four weeks.

On trial are: Erlind Demiraj, 31, of Orts Road, Reading, Klej Doci, 19, of St Margarets Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, Garcon Lala, 27, of Eastern Road, Haringey, London, Gevin Pasha, 21, of Grey Street, Northampton, and Gentjan Kica, 33, of Glenrosa Road, Reading.

All five defendants are charged with conspiracy to blackmail between January 1, 21 and December 14, 21. Four defendants bar Kica are charged with conspiracy to kidnap Mr Khan.

Lala, Doci and Pasha are charged with the kidnap and Mr Khan and the false imprisonment of Mr Nys as well as assault occasioning actual bodily harm or Mr Khan.

Count six of the indictment is possession of an imitation firearm which only Lala is charged with.

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Opening the case, the prosecution claimed that Mr Khan was blackmailed over the course of 2021.

Barrister Mr Bruce said: “Mr Khan’s account is that a friend of his fled overseas because he lost a batch of Class A drugs belonging to the group.

“Mr Khan was embroiled into it because he had been with the friend when the consignment was handed over.

“The group said, ‘He’s gone, you’re here, we’ll transfer the debt over to you.”

The prosecution claims Mr Khan then became involved with drug dealing ‘for’ the defendants in attempts to pay off the debt.

However, it is alleged that every time he failed to make a payment on time, interest was added meaning that a £30,000 debt became £100,000.

It is alleged that Mr Khan’s family was threatened, including the threat to burn down their home.

The Crown believes this is when the defendants conspired to kidnap Mr Khan. His friend, Mr Nys, was allegedly taken because of ‘collateral damage’ meaning the defendants feared he would tell police after he unknowingly showed up with Mr Khan when the group planned to kidnap him.

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On December 13, 2021, armed police stormed a flat in Hunter Street, Northampton and found the two victims, and the defendants were arrested.

The trial continues.