A man will face court today charged with allegedly creating a fraudulent will in order to inherit a $4.5 million Wollongong estate following an investigation under Strike Force Sarina.
In January 2024, officers attached to Wollongong Police District received a report of a break in at a home – which was an unoccupied deceased estate – in East Corrimal.
Police will allege that a will was fraudulently created using documents stolen from the home and submitted to apply for probate.
Strike Force Sarina was established to investigate the incident.
In September 2024, strike force officers executed a search warrant at a home in East Corrimal where they located a number of documents – including an original will – which were seized for forensic examination.
Following extensive inquiries, about 8.40am yesterday (Wednesday 15 January 2025), a second search warrant was executed at the same address in East Corrimal.
During the search two rifles, four gel blasters, ammunition, methylamphetamines, cash, three motor vehicles, a jetski and a motorcycle.
A 38-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Wollongong Police Station, where he was charged with 27 offences;
- make false document to obtain financial advantage,
- make false document to obtain property,
- dishonestly obtain property by deception,
- dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception,
- seven counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime,
- nine counts of possess unauthorised firearm,
- possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority,
- possess greater than 3 unregistered firearm without license/permit,
- supply prohibited drug more than indictable and less than commercial quantity,
- possess prohibited drug,
- participate criminal group contribute criminal activity,
- break & Enter house steal value less than $60,000, and
- steal motor vehicle.
He was refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court today (Thursday 16 January 2025).
It will be alleged the estimated value of the fraud is over $4.5 million – and involved four homes and two bank accounts.
Investigations are continuing.
