Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Brutal Kidnapping of Melbourne Mother & Children

A man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for the kidnapping of two siblings in Melbourne. Jiangang Ji broke into the children’s home armed with a knife while their father was at work. He tied up and assaulted their mother before binding the children’s hands, blindfolding them, and forcing them into a car trunk. The terrifying ordeal lasted nearly 12 hours before the children were safely returned to their parents. The convicted kidnapper, Ji, will have to serve a minimum of 15 years before being eligible for parole. The incident, which occurred in August 2021, sparked a city-wide search and left the children traumatized. The judge described Ji’s crimes as planned and calculated, targeting a vulnerable family in their own home. Ji has admitted to the offenses, claiming they were an act of revenge due to feeling mistreated by the children’s father. The family has sold their car and moved to a new house in an effort to help the children recover from the traumatic experience. Ji is expected to be deported to China after serving his sentence.