Matthew Barnes charged after allegedly stealing documents to access Illawarra deceased man’s estate
A man has had multiple cars, a jetski and firearms seized after he allegedly broke into his dead neighbour’s property where he stole multiple documents used to gain access to a $6m estate.
Police & Courts
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A man allegedly broke into his deceased neighbour’s vacant home and stole identification and financial documents which he used to forge access a $6m estate.
Matthew Barnes, 38, was arrested on Wednesday morning his home north of Wollongong, before being 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.
Barnes is also charged with seven counts of knowingly dealing with crime proceeds and six firearm and ammunition offences.
NSW Police spokesperson said a report was made after an alleged break in at a home on Lake Pde, East Corrimal, in January, 2024. Court documents state the property belonged to Marino Mikleus, who was deceased, and his mother Anna, who passed six months later.
Police allege a will was fraudulently created using documents stolen from the home and submitted to apply for probate.
Strike Force Sarina was established to investigate with officers executing a search warrant of Barnes’ home – which is next door to the one which had been broken into – in September, 2024, where they allegedly located a number of documents – including an original will – which were seized for forensic examination.
The spokesperson said following further inquiries, about 8.40am on Wednesday, a second search warrant was executed at Barnes’ home.
During the search two rifles, four gel blasters, ammunition, meth, cash, an Audi RS 6, a Toyota RAV4 and a Holden Commodore, a jetski and a Ducati H9 motorcycle were seized with accused arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station.
Court documents state one of the proceeds of crime charges relates to a unit on the opposite side of the deceased’s home to Barnes.
Barnes is also charged with seven counts of knowingly dealing with crime proceeds and six firearms and ammunition offences.
Barnes appeared briefly in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday where he was represented by veteran solicitor Graeme Morrison. Mr Morrison said Barnes would not be applying for bail, but asked for the case to be listed later this month consider such application.
Magistrate Susan McGowan formally denied bail with the case to return to on January 29.
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