Crime News

Eastern Suburbs Trio Arrested in Money Laundering Swoop

Three people from the Eastern Suburbs face long jail terms over their alleged involvement in an international money laundering syndicate.

A man from Bellevue Hill and a couple from Vaucluse were arrested by Australian Federal Police. The AFP says they were key players in an enterprise which “provided services on an industrial scale to Australian-based organised crime syndicates,” charging a 10 per cent commission. They then allegedly used these profits to purchase high value assets, including two homes in Bellevue Hill and Vaucluse worth a combined $19 million.

All aged in their forties, the Bellevue Hill man and the man and woman from Vaucluse have been charged with proceeds of crime offences carrying prison sentences of up to 25 years. It is alleged the Vaucluse man was the head of the money laundering group, which operated through transfer of ‘dirty’ money to shell companies in a number of overseas jurisdictions. Casino junkets were also used to launder cash. Police in Hong Kong and Malaysia assisted the AFP in its two year investigation.

Six people in other parts of Sydney were arrested in the AFP swoop, called Operation Avarus-Midas. Members of the alleged syndicate now face losing assets worth over $150 million under proceeds of crime legislation.

Westie Coke Dealers Nabbed at Bondi Beach

Police have been cracking down on cocaine dealers operating at Bondi Beach, with multiple arrests by Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command. A number of people operating ‘dial-a-dealer’ businesses from their cars have recently appeared before Waverley Court, with a pattern emerging - the dealers often come from the Western Suburbs, but ply their trade near Australia’s most famous beach.

A 45-year-old Merrylands woman, Rita Hanna, was caught with 37 small bags of cocaine and more than $6,000 cash. Fronting court, Hanna was let off lightly, with the magistrate taking into account her previously clean criminal record. She was sentenced to a two year community corrections order and $750 fine. Parramatta bricklayer Aseroma Cottrell also escaped jail after his car was stopped on Campbell Parade and police found 10 small bags of coke plus almost $2,000 cash. He was given a 21-month corrections order and fined $550. Merrylands plumber Ramy Raya wasn’t so lucky. He was jailed for nine months after being nabbed near the beach with 19.5 grams of coke and $4,800 in his glovebox. Waverley Court was told the 23-year-old had previous criminal form and was on a bond for a serious assault.

Colombian Student Faces Justice Over Sex Worker Killing

A client of a Coogee sex worker who attacked her because she was transgender has been convicted of manslaughter.

Hector Valencia, 23, booked an appointment with 69-year-old Kimberley McRae after seeing an ad online. He went to her Coogee flat, where he punched her after discovering she was transgender. Ms McRae picked up a table lamp to defend herself and there was a violent struggle on the floor. The fight came to a tragic end after Valencia pressed the lamp cord against her neck. She died from asphyxiation.

Valencia fled the apartment and days later flew back to Colombia. Just before his departure he sent a text message to a Sydney friend confessing to the killing. He was subsequently extradited to Australia and put on trial in the NSW Supreme Court, where he was cleared of a murder charge but convicted of manslaughter. Sentencing was deferred pending submissions from his defence counsel.

Maroubra Man Jailed

Kieron Almond couldn’t resist the temptation when he happened upon an unlocked minibus parked in Maroubra with the keys in the ignition. He got inside and started the engine. The minibus driver was nearby and saw what was happening. He rushed over and stood in front of the vehicle to prevent it being driven away. But that didn’t stop 31-year-old Almond, who ran over the man’s foot as he drove off.

Almond, of Maroubra, faced a slew of charges when he appeared in Waverley Court. The magistrate noted Almond’s history of violent criminal offences and sentenced him to 14 months jail, a two year driving ban and $1,000 fine.

Carpenter Assaulted Man Over Minor Car Damage

It was all too much for Bondi carpenter Kyle Rees when his parked ute suffered damage from the door of another car being opened carelessly.

Rees, 32, lashed out at the man responsible for putting a blemish on his precious Ford Ranger, slapping him so hard across the face that the victim suffered a broken jaw.

In Waverley Court, Rees pleaded guilty to the assault in the forecourt of the Caltex Star Mart in North Bondi. He was sentenced to a two year corrections order and fined $750.

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