Witnesses were wrong, says alleged victim of kidnap from Bondi Junction in Sydney

The victim of a bizarre reported "abduction" from a Sydney shopping centre has defended her alleged kidnapper who was later charged with assault.

Witnesses say 35-year-old Elizabeth Bell was assaulted and forced into a van at Bondi Junction on Tuesday afternoon.

Police initially held "significant concerns" for her safety and called on the public to help locate the victim.

In the early hours of Wednesday, officers stopped a van in Glebe and found Ms Bell inside, uninjured.

William Curteis, the 42-year-old driver of the van, was charged with common assault and contravening a domestic apprehended violence order.

His 28-year-old male passenger was questioned and released without charge.

Ms Bell was arrested for breach of bail and released with a warning.

Curteis appeared briefly at Newtown Local Court on Wednesday where he was refused bail.

Outside court Ms Bell denied she was kidnapped or hurt during the fracas.

"Not at all," she told reporters.

The 35-year-old claimed the witnesses had mistakenly reported Tuesday's incident as an abduction.

"I'm here to support him fully," she said of Curteis.