Key witness in Germani Jewellers robbery case is ‘serial fraudster’, court told

Extraordinary new evidence has emerged in court about the background of a key witness in the ‘fake robbery’ case against Germani Jewellers owner Michel Germani.

Jeweller Michel Germani and his wife Coco. Mrs Germani is not accused of any wrongdoing and The Daily Telegraph does not suggest so.

One of the key witnesses in the court case against a Sydney businessman alleged to have organised a $2.8 million insurance hit on his own high-end jewellery store is a serial fraudster with an 88-page criminal record, a court has heard.

Police documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court say a man by the name of Joseph Esber contacted them on January 11, 2023, alleging that Germani Jeweller owner Michel Germani was “actively seeking persons to commit a robbery at his jewellery store to make a fraudulent insurance claim”.

Mr Esber allegedly told police that Germani approached him to carry out the robbery at the George St store, however he declined.

It is alleged the hit was carried out six days later on January 19 by two different men who had allegedly been organised by Germani’s associate, Giulia Penna.

The court heard Mr Esber later gave a statement to investigators outlining what Germani had allegedly asked him to do, which police said aligned with what had occurred during the actual robbery, including details which were yet to be made public.

Germani was subsequently charged with aggravated robbery, participating in a criminal group, dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage and publishing false or misleading material to obtain property.

He was remanded in custody at the time and is yet to enter any pleas.

Germani fronted the Supreme Court on Friday for a planned bail application, however his legal team sought an adjournment, saying they had recently been served with police documents revealing that Mr Esber had a lengthy history of criminal dishonesty, which they said struck at the heart of the Crown case against their client.

Jeweller Michel Germani and his wife Coco. Mrs Germani is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Defence barrister David Dalton SC said Mr Esber, who is also known as Ibrahim Abdoo (the correct spelling of his surname was not revealed in open court), had an 88-page criminal record.

He said he had been supplied with 220 pages worth of police facts sheets for Mr Esber’s offending stemming back to 2012.

“He has a history of systemic fraudulent conduct principally relating to high-end jewellery stores and motor vehicle retailers,” Mr Dalton said.

He argued Mr Esber’s criminal history would be relevant to determining his credibility as a witness at trial, but said it also shed light on his alleged relationship to Penna, which was not previously known by the parties.

Justice Peter Garling agreed to adjourn the case so both parties could review the fresh evidence and prepare their cases for bail.

Court documents reveal police will allege Germani arranged for Penna to have the two alleged robbers raid the store after hours, while he and another staff member were conducting a pre-organised private jewellery viewing.

The staff member is not accused of any wrongdoing and police allege she was an innocent victim in the alleged scam.

The court heard it is alleged Germani met the two men at Penna’s Strathfield home on the morning of the robbery to discuss the plan, before one of the duo was seen on CCTV attending Bunnings at Padstow to purchase gloves and cable ties.

Police will allege those same cable ties were used to bound Germani and the second staff member later that evening during the robbery.

The court heard Germani provided a 10-page statement about the incident and Germani gave police access to his mobile phone, however it is alleged a forensic examination of the device revealed he had deleted his call log history from January 13 to January 18, as well as messages he allegedly sent to Penna and Mr Esber.

The court heard Germani subsequently lodged an insurance claim seeking $2.8 million for the stolen jewellery.

Penna, who was charged with aggravated robbery, accessory before the fact, and participating in a criminal group, remains in custody without bail.

Germani’s matter will return to court at a later date.