Omar Kouchaji, Feras Jallad, Ayman Baltaji charged over alleged robberies
Three men have been charged following raids across southwest Sydney as police investigate a spate of alleged armed robberies targeting pharmacies, fast food restaurants and a brothel.
The Express
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Three men have been charged following raids across southwest Sydney as police investigate a spate of robberies spanning from last July.
Strike Force Canberry was formed to investigate the robberies — five of which allegedly involved weapons — between July 2019 and June 2020 in Bankstown, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Hurlstone Park, Milperra, Moorebank and Padstow.
The robberies allegedly occurred at pharmacies, fast food restaurants and a brothel.
Last month detectives arrested a 24-year-old man in Moorebank in connection with the robberies and charged him with two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon.
Police allege the man was involved in an armed robbery at a Cherrybrook pharmacy on June 30 during which two employees were threatened with a knife.
He remains before the courts and is due to appear at Liverpool Local Court on September 28.
On Wednesday morning officers executed four search warrants at homes in Chester Hill, Georges Hall, Greenacre and Fairfield and seized mobile phones, prohibited drugs and a crossbow.
Three men were charged, with police alleging they were involved in several armed robberies across Sydney between last July and June 2020.
Omar Kouchaji, 20, of Chester Hill was charged with 11 offences including six counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, robbery in company, two counts of attempt robbery in company, attempt robbery with offensive weapon, robbery in company cause wounding/grievous bodily harm.
His defence counsel from Abbas and Co Lawyers applied for bail at Bankstown Local Court today, submitting the prosecution case was based on circumstantial evidence and “not strong”.
Bail was refused and Mr Kouchaji is due to appear at Burwood Local Court on September 30.
Feras Jallad, 25, of Georges Hall, was charged with eight offences including five counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, attempt robbery in company, robbery in company cause wounding/grievous bodily harm and possess prohibited drug.
His barrister AJ Karim applied for his release on bail, but it was denied by Magistrate Glenn Walsh.
Mr Walsh said there were a number of “linkages” in the alleged joint criminal enterprise that made the Crown case “reasonably strong”.
Mr Jallad is also due to appear at Burwood Local Court on September 30.
A third man, Ayman Baltaji, 26, from Fairfield, was charged with eight offences including two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, robbery in company cause wounding/grievous bodily harm, aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and three counts of possess prohibited drug.
He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. The matter was adjourned to August 10 for an expected bail application.