A woman accused of playing the part of a hostage in an alleged kidnapping hoax, which a Hunter magistrate described as "planned" and "ongoing", has been granted bail.
Kayla Leigh, 20, faced Maitland Local Court on Wednesday after she was charged in the early hours of the morning over the ruse, in which she was allegedly part of a video call to her relatives on Tuesday night handcuffed and appearing to be held against her will.
She was arrested at a hotel on High Street at Maitland about 1am and charged with conveying false information that a person/property is in danger.
Her co-accused - a man - remains at large.
In court on Wednesday, the prosecution described the alleged incident as "very serious", and having "no motive or otherwise ... but to drive fear".
Magistrate John Chicken described it as "planned" and made reference to a depiction of a bleeding hand made out to be Ms Leigh's in the video call.
"This young woman would have her relatives believe ... she was about to be murdered," Magistrate Chicken said.
"This goes to the top end straight away."
But Ms Leigh's solicitor George McCarly told the court his client needed to be tested for potential cognitive issues.
He also presented a person who offered Ms Leigh a place to live while on bail as well as a financial guarantee that she would not take flight - which had been a concern of the prosecution.
Ms Leigh will face court again on October 2.
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