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/DandenongJournal
Tuesday, 7 February, 2023
@StarJournal_SE
Julie is a shining example
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Good sports recognised
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12496498-DL22-21
‘Heartbroken’ by crime spree
40¢ Inc. GST
Twist to robbery By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Tara Cosoleto, AAP One of the men who allegedly bound, gagged and threatened a store owner at knifepoint in a $1.9 million jewellery heist in Dandenong has claimed to be the victim’s long-term friend. Kamran Orouji, 66, of Doncaster, and Masoud Izadi, 60, of Pakenham, faced at separate hearings in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 2 February on charges including armed robbery, false imprisonment and assault. Senior Constable Tom Ballintyne, of Greater Dandenong CIU, told Orouji’s bail hearing that shortly before the alleged robbery on 29 December, the pair drove in Orouji’s daughter’s silver Camry to Bunnings in Dandenong South. There, Orouji allegedly bought cable-ties, a cap, high-vis T-shirt, wrecking bar and masking tape. They parked on McCrae Street, walked into Dandenong’s CBD and entered the rear yard of Zara Jewellers about 6pm, Sen Const Ballintyne said. The detective told the court that the alleged robbers grabbed the owner as he emerged from a toilet at the rear. Then he was “frogmarched” into the back door. Orouji allegedly held a knife to the owner’s throat and threatened “I’ll cut you” unless provided with the PIN for a safe, the detective told the court. The intruders plundered 17 kilograms of gold worth $1.792 million and $140,000 cash, smashed the store’s CCTV cameras and stole the CCTV hard drive, he said.
The owner was allegedly bound and gagged and left in a side room. Orouji and Izadi fled with the loot in the owner’s Range Rover, which was later found abandoned 800 metres away in Wedge Street, the court heard. They then allegedly drove away in the daughter’s Camry south down Foster Street, crossing Princes Highway and Thomas Street. They were arrested in simultaneous raids on the accuseds’ homes on 1 February – a day after police made a public appeal for information. None of the gold has been recovered, despite five raids by police on 1 February, Sen Const Ballintyne said. As part of a “complex case”, Sen Const Ballintyne said he had never had more CCTV footage to go through “in my life”. Telephone intercepts of the accused pair speaking in a “foreign language” were yet to be transcribed. The “traumatised” store owner hadn’t reopened the business since the “brazen” offending, the detective said. According to a defence lawyer, Orouji had been friends with the victim for 15 years. The victim’s name was found among Orouji’s phone contacts, though no communications between the pair had yet been found, Sen Const Ballintyne said. The defence lawyer questioned why the victim didn’t identify his assailant as Orouji, who was described as wearing sunglasses at the time. Continued page 5
Temple inferno The landmark Bright Moon Temple in Springvale South was gutted by fire on Sunday night. Watched by stunned onlookers, 80 firefighters battled for more than two hours to bring the fierce blaze under control. For more, turn to page 8
Picture: CHELSEA SES
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