Australian police have arrested a man for kidnapping and murdering his mother, days after she went missing in Sydney.

Police superintendent Barry Vincent said Ante Ivan Popovic, 34, was arrested at Tomerong village in New South Wales on Thursday.

Mr Popovic’s mother, 58, disappeared on Monday after telling her family she was meeting a relative in Winston Hills. Her car was found in the Sydney suburb, about 28km west of Sydney, the next morning.

“It will be alleged they were meeting there to talk about perhaps borrowing some money,” Mr Vincent said, referring to the mother and son, according to ABC News.

He alleged that Mr Popovic’s communications directed towards his estranged mother “were hostile in nature prior to that meeting”.

According to investigators, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, the mother and son left the city together, but only Mr Popovic returned to his home in South Coast.

Mr Popovic drove to Winston Hills, then to the west of the Blue Mountains before reaching Tomerong, where he was found sitting in a white Toyota Hilux dual cab, Mr Vincent said.

The suspect was charged with murder after his arrest on Thursday afternoon.

Police believe the woman is dead and are searching for her body. The superintendent said they had issued an appeal for members of the public to share any information related to the case.

“She is a mother with a number of children,” he said. I understand she cares for her elderly parents.”

“When the family were informed of the action taken by police, they were obviously shocked,” Mr Vincent said. “We are working through that with them and supporting them as best as we can.”

Police are expected to narrow down their search area on Friday and make more enquiries to help find the woman’s body.

Mr Popovic was presented for his bail hearing on Friday, but he did not apply for bail. The matter was then adjourned to a later date.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled to be held at Parramatta Local Court on 12 August.