Joel Batour-Pullin faces court over alleged car, boat rebirthing syndicate
One of five men charged after allegedly stealing 26 cars and boats - including NSW Rul Fire Service vehicles - worth $1.25 million has fronted court accused of being part of a rebirthing syndicate.
Parramatta
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Ermington man Joel Batour-Pullin — one of five men accused of stealing 26 cars and boats for an alleged $1.25 million rebirthing syndicate — has fronted court.
Batour-Pullin faced multiple charges after the alleged co-ordinated syndicate led to arrests under Strike Force Piddington, which formed to investigate fraudulent CTP green slips that were linked to the co-ordinated theft, rebirthing and on-sale of cars and boats by a group operating across Sydney.
Between May and June 2020, investigators searched several homes at Ermington, Lidcombe, Granville, Kentlyn, Yennora and Telopea.
During the searches, police seized six stolen vessels, six stolen boat trailers and 12 stolen vehicles – including three Landcruiser utilities owned-by and purpose-built for the NSW Rural Fire Service worth almost $290,000.
On August 5, Batour-Pullin was arrested on Turner St, Ermington.
Detectives seized a mobile phone and $1250 cash when they searched his car, and during a raid of an Ermington home, they seized two stolen motorcycles worth $16,850, stolen vessel equipment, two mobile phones and $4000 cash.
Batour-Pullin was taken to Granville police station and charged with knowingly facilitating organised car rebirthing activity, participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity and six counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
He was granted strict conditional bail.
Court papers allege the 26-year-old participated in the syndicate with Omar Alameddine, Habib Alameddine, Mark Jasper, Aladdine Ajouz, Hamza Mustapha and Sean Mercer from December 2018 to May this year.
Under the dealing with proceeds of crime charges, court papers list he dealt with a Sea Ray vessel at Auburn in December, Surtees vessel from Parramatta in August last year, a Toyota HiLux from Ermington in December, a Bar Crusher boat from Ermington in February, a Toyota Landcruiser between April and May in Ermington and three Landcruisers at Seven Hills from April to May.
At Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday, Batour-Pullin’s bail was continued and the matter was adjourned to October 29.
Other men are due to front court over the alleged syndicate.
As part of ongoing inquiries, Strike Force Piddington investigators arrested a 27-year-old man at a home at Ermington and a 32-year-old man at a home at Condell Park on August 11.
The younger man was taken to Parramatta police station and charged with knowingly facilitating organised car rebirthing, four counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, stealing a motor vehicle, knowingly direct activities of a criminal group and possessing a prohibited drug.
He appeared at Parramatta Local Court that day, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court October 8.
The older man was taken to Bankstown police station and charged with two counts of receive motor vehicle part – theft (serious indictable offence), induce other to accept non-genuine unique identifier, two counts of dishonestly possess interfered with unique identifier, knowingly facilitate organised car rebirthing, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on September 9.
On August 12, detectives arrested a 26-year-old man at a home at Lidcombe and a 27-year-old man at a business at Seven Hills.
The younger man was charged with induce other to accept non-genuine unique identifiers, participate in criminal group contribute criminal activity and knowingly facilitate car rebirthing. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on September 24.
The older man was charged with knowingly facilitating organised car rebirthing, participating in a criminal group contributing criminal activity and carrying on business of motor vehicle repairer when unlicensed. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court on September 24.
Investigations under Strike Force Piddington are continuing and further arrests are expected.