Sean Mercer: Seven Hills car rebirthing syndicate accused faces Blacktown Court
Police allege a western Sydney man operated as a mechanic without a licence in a $1.25 million car rebirthing syndicate, involving the theft and sale of dozens of cars and boats including RFS vehicles.
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A motor vehicle repairer who police allege was involved in a $1.25 million car rebirthing syndicate involving dozens of stolen cars and boats, including NSW Rural Fire Service vehicles, will fight the charges.
Sean Robert Mercer, 27, of Dundas, faced Blacktown Local Court today, one of five people charged as part of a large police sting into the alleged theft and on sale of stolen vehicles and vessels between October and May this year.
Last month, police allegedly seized 26 stolen motorcycles, boats and trailers with a combined value of more than $1.25 million, linked to the criminal syndicate.
Police began investigating in November and established Strike Force Piddington to look into CTP green slip fraud across Sydney.
In May and June this year, police raided locations across Sydney, including Seven Hills, Ermington, Lidcombe, Granville, Kentlyn, Yennora and Telopa, where they allegedly uncovered six stolen boats, six stolen boat trailers and 12 stolen cars, including three Landcruisers purpose-built for the Rural Fire Service, with a combined value of about $290,000.
Police allege the vehicles were stolen by members of the syndicate from Yennora in April.
On August 12, Mr Mercer was arrested at a business in Seven Hills and charged with a string of offences, including knowingly facilitating a car rebirthing syndicate, participating in a criminal group and working as a motor vehicle repairer without a licence.
According to court documents, police allege Mr Mercer took part in the criminal group with six other men, including: Omar Alameddine, Joel Batour-Pullin, Mark Jasper, Aladdin Ajouz, Hamza Mustapha and Habib Alameddine. They have all been charged and remain before the courts.
Police further allege Mr Mercer facilitated rebirthing activities from Seven Hills on an ongoing basis.
Also in August, police arrested a 25-year-old man during a vehicle stop on Turner St, Ermington, where they allegedly seized $1250 cash and a mobile phone.
Officers raided a home in Ermington a short time later and allegedly seized two stolen motorcycles, with a combined value of $16,850.
Boating equipment, believed to be stolen, two mobile phones and $4000 cash was also seized.
The man was charged with a string of offences, including knowingly facilitating organised car rebirthing and remains before the courts.
A 27-year-old man was arrested shortly after at a home in Ermington and charged with directing the activities of a criminal group, stealing a motor vehicle and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime. He was refused bail and remains before the courts.
A 32-year-old Condell Park man also faces a string of charges, including receiving a motor vehicle part (theft), dishonestly possessing interfered with unique identifier and knowingly participating in a criminal group.
A 27-year-old man from Lidcombe also faces a string of charges, including knowingly facilitating car rebirthing and remains before the courts.
Appearing at Blacktown Local Court on Thursday, Mr Mercer pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
The matter will return to court next month.