Brother of prime suspect in Chloe Ayling glamour model kidnapping case to fight extradition to Italy

The model was allegedly lured to Milan under the promise of a photoshoot before being drugged and held captive for six days until she was freed

The brother of the prime suspect in the Chloe Ayling glamour model kidnapping case is set to fight extradition to Italy.
Michal Konrad Herba, who denies any involvement in the crime, was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old is said to have helped his brother drug and abduct the model and take her from Milan to a small village near Turin, where she was held captive for six days before being freed.
Ms Ayling, from Coulsdon, south London, is believed to have been snatched by a group calling itself Black Death after being lured to a fake modelling shoot in Milan on July 11.
Michal's brother and prime suspect, Lukasz Pawel Herba, who handed himself in to police when he took Ms Ayling to the British embassy in Milan, has since denied knowingly taking part in any crime.
Lukasz has said his involvement stems from wanting to raise money to treat his leukaemia and that he was hired by a group of Romanians to rent properties around Europe to store garments they were selling.
He is also said to have told Italian investigators he posed as a photographer and met Ms Ayling.
His home in Oldbury, in the West Midlands, has already been raided by British officers.
Michal Herba appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today not handcuffed while wearing a white T-shirt with large writhing and blue jeans.
He spoke through a Polish interpreter and only confirmed his date of birth and name.
Florence Iveson, representing the judicial authority, said: "The application is for one offence.
"It is said that Mr Herba, in joint enterprise with his brother, and other in unidentified persons kidnapped Chloe Ayling and unlawfully detained her from July 11 to July 17.
"It is said they abducted, drugged and taken from Milan to Lemie and kept there until July 17. A ransom of €300,000 was demanded.
"Mr Herba was arrested yesterday morning in Smethwick at 9.10am."
Lukasz Herba said he was paid £500,000, but when he found out the Romanians intended to kidnap and sell her as a sex slave, her he backed out of the plan.
Mum-of-one Ms Ayling was said to be drugged handcuffed and dumped in the boot of a car by the sex gang who called themselves Black Death and then tried to sell her on the dark web, possibly to Middle Eastern buyers.
Michal Herba was apprehended on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Italian authorities, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.
Katherine Newey, representing Herba, said he was challenging his extradition on the grounds there is no evidence against him that has been provided.
She said: "The offence took place relatively recently and of course no evidence has been served in this case.
"He denies involvement so the early stages of an Italian investigation can be slow, there are different procedures."
Deputy senior district judge, Tan Ikram, remanded Herba in custody.
He said: "No bail application has been made on your behalf. I'm satisfied there are substantial grounds that if you were released you would fail to surrender.
"I came to that view in light of the seriousness of the offence which you are wanted in Italy and the recent age of it.
"You will therefore be remanded in custody."
Michal Herba will be able to apply for bail on August 23 at a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
He faces a full extradition hearing on September 25 at the same court.