Magnolia Rose Farmer: Woman charged in relation to $6m Wollongong estate fraud

The partner of a man accused of fraudulently accessing his deceased neighbour’s $6m will by forging stolen documents, has also been charged in relation to the alleged con. See the video.

The partner of a man charged with breaking into his neighbour’s vacant home to steal documents and use them to forge access to a $6m estate, has also been charged in connection to the alleged fraud.

Magnolia Rose Farmer, 39, was arrested in the Illawarra on Thursday, a week after the arrest of Matthew Barnes, 38, who is accused of breaking into his next door neighbour Marino Mikleus’ home in January 2024 and stealing the documents to fraudulently create a will in his favour.

A NSW Police spokesman said Barnes is accused of unlawfully applying for probate and using the proceeds of the will to buy goods, including guns, cars, a motorbike and a jetski.

Following reports of a break-in at Mr Mikleus’ East Corrimal home, Strike Force Sarina was established to investigate.

Police searched Barnes’ neighbouring home in September say they found a number of documents – including an original will – which were seized for forensic examination.

After another search on Wednesday morning, police seized two rifles, four gel blasters, ammunition, meth, cash, an Audi RS 6, a Toyota RAV4, a Holden Commodore, a jetski and a Ducati H9 motorcycle.

Magnolia Rose Farmer was arrested on Thursday morning. Picture: NSW Police

Barnes was arrested and charged with 27 offences allegedly in the period since August, 2023.

The charges include breaking and entering, participating in a criminal group, two counts of making a false document and two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial property by deception.

Farmer appeared at Wollongong Local Court on Friday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Barnes is also charged with seven counts of knowingly dealing with crime proceeds and six firearm and ammunition offences.

Police allege one of the proceeds of crime charges relates to a unit on the other side of the deceased’s home.

A NSW Police spokesman said a report was initially made after an alleged break-in at the home on Lake Pde, East Corrimal, which the documents state belonged to Mr Mikleus, who was deceased, and his mother Anna – who passed away six months later.

Following his arrest, Barnes appeared briefly in Wollongong Local Court earlier this month, represented by solicitor Graeme Morrison.

Barnes did not apply for bail with the case to return to court next week.

The police spokesman said Farmer was arrested Thursday morning at a home in East Corrimal, before being taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.

Farmer - who was refused bail upon her arrested - appeared at Wollongong Local Court today before Magistrate Geraldine Beattie.

Ms Beattie granted bail on the conditions Farmer report to police once a day and must not depart Australia.

Farmer’s case will return to the same court on March 26.

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