Sayed-Akbar Amini: Baby formula thief pleads guilty
A man who covered up with a surgical face mask and fedora hat stole tins of baby formula in a brazen theft from a north shore Coles.
Parramatta
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parramatta . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man who was part of an alleged baby formula syndicate where a total of 1306 tins were seized by police has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $400 worth from Coles.
Sayed-Akbar Amini, 53, from Auburn, fronted Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday on one count of larceny.
His arrest followed a joint operation between NSW Police, Coles and Woolworths into the stolen tins of baby formula last year.
Three search warrants were executed as part of police investigations where a total of 1306 infant formula tins were recovered, according to police facts.
Amini was monitored by police from last September to October where he was seen to frequent “several Coles and Woolworths retail stores throughout Sydney,” according to police facts.
His larceny charge related specifically to an incident last October where he was caught on CCTV wearing a surgical mask and fedora hat as he entered Coles St Ives with an empty shopping cart.
Police allege he then loaded up 15 baby formula tins of Aptamil Gold, Bellamys, A2 Platinum infant formula, and Karicare A2 protein infant formula, before leaving the store in a car rental.
“Police have credible intelligence and information to suggest that the accused with co-offenders are responsible for a large ongoing and highly organised criminal syndicate involved in stealing infant formula from supermarkets to on-sell for a profit to businesses,” according to police facts.
Police further described Amini as a “recidivist shoplifting offender.”
Amini faced Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday where he was due for sentence.
Yet his lawyer attempted to make a mental health application saying his actions were “nonsensical.”
Magistrate Louise McManus told the court the charges were serious and challenged the lawyer’s claim.
“He is not a nonsensical shoplifter. This appears to be for (making) profit,” she told the court.
The mental health application was withdrawn and his lawyer subsequently entered a guilty plea on behalf of Amini.
The matter was adjourned to May 12 for sentence.
The co-accused is before the courts.
Stars, standouts as Waratahs continue march in Super Rugby U19s
The Waratahs have continued their match towards the decider of the Super Rugby U19s but there’s still things that need to be sorted. Stars, standouts, great photos from battle with Reds.
Comeback, two-try stars in Waratahs v Reds U16s Super Rugby battle
It took them a while but the NSW Waratahs finally found their groove against the Queensland Reds as one of rugby’s best rivalries ignited in the Super Rugby U16s. Stars, great photos.