Bassam Turkmani, Jack Kemp face court over alleged break-in spree

Two men have faced court on allegations of breaking into a string of stores and taking more than $100k of cigarettes.

A duo who allegedly broke into a string of liquor shops taking more than a $100k of cigarettes before taking cops on a wild pursuit in an stolen truck have faced court.

Bassam Turkmani and Jack Kemp faced court from their prison cells on Wednesday on several charges including multiple aggravated break and enter and larceny charges.

Turkmani, 43, from Chatswood was hit with 12 charges including several aggravated break and enter charges, larceny, possessing a prohibited firearm without a permit and participating in a criminal group.

Turkmani was due to face Hornsby Local Court for the first time on Wednesday but his lawyer Gus Dib made an email appearance asking for the court to adjourn the matter to allow NSW Police to serve the balance of the brief material.

“We have only received yesterday the fact sheet consisting of eight pages,” Mr Dib said.

Turkmani is accused of breaking into several liquor shops in Sydney’s north shore, according to court attendance notices.

Police allege he broke into IGA Plus Liquor shop in Lindfield and left with an amount of cigarettes in company with Kemp last September.

He also allegedly broke into Chatswood Mall Newsagency in April this year where he allegedly stole almost 800 packets of cigarettes which were later allegedly disposed of in Mount Druitt, according to court attendance notices.

A Pantech truck was allegedly used in one of the break-ins

About a month later, police allege he broke into BWS Oakhill in Castle Hill and Cellarbrations at C‘ellar Vie in Turramurra and allegedly stole cigarettes at both locations.

Police allege he drove an alleged stolen white Isuzu NPR 200 in Lidcombe on May 20 before allegedly breaking into Richie’s IGA in Cresthaven Ave, Bateau Bay in company the following day.

Turkmani was also charged with possessing a self-loading pistol without a permit and participating in a criminal group between May 2020 and 2021 along with Steven Barber and Kemp.

This weapon was allegedly seized during the raid. Picture: NSW Police

Meanwhile Kemp, 46, from Gladesville faced 13 charges including break and enter in company, larceny, and being involved in a police pursuit.

Police allege Kemp broke into several establishments in company including Silvermart convenience store in Silverwater, IGA Plus Liquor in East Lindfield and Cellarbrations Bottle Shop in Turramurra and is alleged to have stolen cigarettes and cash from each.

Kemp is also alleged to have taken an Isuzu Pantech truck without the owner’s permission. He is also alleged to have broken into the Bateau Bay Richie’s IGA where $115,000 worth of cigarettes were allegedly stolen, according to court attendance notices.

He then got caught up in an alleged police pursuit in the early hours of May 21 where police allege he was driving “recklessly” and in a “manner dangerous to others.”

The Gladesville man was also found with $88,000 which police allege was the proceeds of crime.

Turkmani and Kemp, who are remanded in custody, will return to court in July.

Co-accused Steven Barber is also before the courts.