Muhammad Jibran Shabbir Warraich in Maroochydore court for alleged fraud
A foreign national alleged to be one of three interstate fraudsters remains in custody after being extradited to Queensland as police warn time is of the essence for the case.
Sunshine Coast
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A 22-year-old foreign national has been remanded in custody on the Sunshine Coast after he was extradited from Sydney and charged with scamming a 92-year-old Kings Beach man out of $30,000.
Muhammad Jibran Shabbir Warraich is one of three men accused of taking the money from the elderly man in January 2020.
He was scheduled to apply for bail in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on December 23, but did not appear and instead had his matter moved.
Defence barrister James Grehan said this was because Mr Warraich’s family were working to arrange surety over him as he was not a Queensland resident.
He asked his client’s bail application be scheduled for January 9.
But police prosecutor Mick Ruddiman said the matter should be listed for trial and move quickly, given the fact the victim was 92.
“(The victim is) not getting any younger,” Sergeant Ruddiman said.
“I believe in this matter, quickly progressing through the court would be paramount.”
Detective Senior Constable Russell Connor previously told the Sunshine Coast Daily police alleged the Kings Beach man was contacted by the trio over the phone, who claimed his accounts had been hacked.
The group then allegedly drove from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast and arrived at his doorstep.
Police allege the three men took around $30,000 in cash and property from various Sunshine and Gold Coast ATM’s and retail outlets before they fled to New South Wales the next day.
The other two men allegedly involved – also foreign nationals – are under restraint in NSW and therefore Queensland arrest warrants are unable to be executed at this time.
Mr Warraich was remanded in custody and will return to Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 9, 2023.
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