Investigators, who took the controversial billionaire-turned-politician's long time aid into custody on Friday morning over an alleged plot to kidnap a National Australia Bank employee, say he used Mr Palmer's name to lure the man to an Indonesian island under the guise he was applying for a job.

Taskforce Maxima Detective Superintendent Mick Niland said Mr Palmer did not know of the use of his name in the alleged kidnapping until investigators informed him of the pending charges against Mr Crook on Friday morning.

However, he flatly denied Mr Palmer's outlandish claims the raids on his media adviser were politically motivated, and timed to damage the Palmer United Party's election chances at eh upcoming Queensland election.

"This morning (Taskforce) Maxima investigators had a conversation with Clive Palmer, I can categorically state Mr Clive Palmer is not involved in this investigation in any way, shape or form," he said.

"He is a victim of the circumstances of this case. His name has been used by three offenders in an effort to lure the victim to an island in Indonesia."

Mr Crook, 48, of the inner Brisbane suburb of New Farm, was released on bail on Friday afternoon after fronting Brisbane Magistrates Court, as was his co-accused, Gold Coast father-of-three Mick Featherstone, 51.

Both men were charged with retaliation of a witness, attempting to pervert the course of justice and attempted fraud.

Both men made unsuccessful applications for the proceedings of their bail applications to be prohibited from publication, citing the high level of media interest in the case.

Police allege the pair, along with former AFL Sydney Swans player Tony Smith who lives in Bali, staged an elaborate scheme in which the NAB employee was lured to an Indonesian island under the guise he was applying for a job as a global finance manager for Mr Palmer.

Once on the island, the man was strip searched and his phone and wallet taken in a bid to elicit a video confession retracting evidence he gave at a civil trial in August 2012.

Mr Smith remains wanted by police over the matter.

Taskforce Maxima Criminal Economy Team Detective Inspector Phil Stevens said the elaborate nature of the plot was like something from a movie.

"This is one of the most elaborate and desperate schemes I have seen in 35 years of policing, it reads like a Hollywood script," he said.

It is alleged Mr Smith engaged the services of both Mr Crook and Mr Featherstone, a Gold Coast private detective, to carry out the plot.

Superintendent Niland rejected Mr Palmer's claims the arrests were politically motivated.

The head of Queensland's anti-bikie squad said the investigation commenced as a Taskforce Maxima  investigation into Mr Featherstone before evidence of the plot emerged as a separate investigation.

"I can say in a sense Mr Palmer is a victim but it is utter nonsense to say it's political," he said.

"This is a serious criminal investigation and Mr Palmer was unaware of this investigation until this morning."

Mr Crook and Mr Featherstone were both bailed on condition they surrender their passports, stay away from each other and from alleged victims of the crime, as well as keep more than 100 metres from the Southport NAB branch.

Both Mr Crook's home and office were raided and his computer seized on Friday morning.

Mr Palmer suggested they might be politically motivated.

"The timing seems to be a little bit strange ... it does seem coincidental that this is happening just before the state election," he said.