A luxury jeweller has been charged with orchestrating an elaborate armed robbery at his Sydney CBD store in a bid to defraud his insurer.
Michel Elias Germani initially told police he and a staff member were threatened by two men who visited the Germani Jewellery store in the Queen Victoria Building earlier this year.
The 65-year-old said one of the men threatened the woman with a knife while the other man demanded access to a safe shortly after 6.30pm on January 19.
Both staff members were allegedly restrained before the two men fled the George Street store.
Investigators allege the robbery was a scam orchestrated by Germani in an attempt to defraud his insurance company.
The jeweller was arrested on Monday and charged with aggravated robbery and depriving a person of their liberty, attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception, publishing false or misleading material to obtain property, and participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity.
Germani faced Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday where police alleged he was involved in “planning and co-ordinating the robbery and attempted to defraud an insurance company”.
He made no application for bail and was ordered to reappear in court for a bail review on Thursday.
The Robbery and Serious Crime Squad under Strike Force Ingestre also arrested another two men over the robbery.
A 37-year-old man was arrested last month and charged and remains before the courts, police said.
A 57-year-old man was later arrested in Homebush West on April 22 and charged with aggravated robbery and depriving a person of liberty, and participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity.
He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local Court on April 23 where he was formally refused bail to next appear at Downing Centre Local Court on June 29.
Source: AAP
