Man admits to kidnapping two children for $1m ransom

Jiangang Ji, a construction worker, faced the first day of a trial in the County Court on Wednesday over charges including assault at a home in Melbourne's east in August 2021.

Before the trial began, the jury was told Ji had pleaded guilty to five charges, including two kidnapping offences, false imprisonment, aggravated burglary and theft of a vehicle.

He denies the remaining three charges.

Prosecutor Kristie Churchill said Ji drove to a Blackburn North home on August 23, parked out the front and waited for an hour until the woman's husband left for work.

About 6.30am, Ms Churchill said Ji broke into the home through an unlocked window while allegedly holding a knife.

Once inside, he confronted a woman and tied her hands together with tape, bandaged her legs and taped her mouth shut, she said.

Ji took her two children, both aged under five, and put them inside the family's Mercedes-Benz, before returning to the house where he allegedly assaulted the mother with a knife.

He then left, abducting the kids in the family car.

The distressed woman ran outside while still bound and gagged and tried to get someone to call police.

She told her husband what had happened and he called Ji, whom he knew through work.

Ji demanded $1 million from the husband for the safe return of his children.

Police arrested Ji at his Mitcham home about 7pm, as he was trying to move the family's car.

Officers found the two children in a back seat of the vehicle. He was interviewed by police, where he admitted to some of the charges.

Ji's barrister Carmela Pezzimenti said he denies assaulting the woman with a knife, along with two other charges.

"These other charges didn't happen... he is currently presumed innocent," she told the jury.

The trial before Judge Gabriele Cannon continues.

Australian Associated Press