Four men charged over stolen mobile phone scheme

Three members of the notorious Chaouk family have been accused of trying to send $2.5 million in stolen mobile phones from Melbourne to Russia.

Three members of the notorious Chaouk family have been charged with sending or trying to send $2.5 million in stolen mobile phones from Melbourne to Russia.

Detectives from the financial crime squad last week charged Mahmoud, 33, Kaled, 38, and Youssef Chaouk, 32, and another man Robert William Hovendene, 69, as part of what they allege is an organised crime syndicate involving complex frauds and deceptions totalling almost $4 million.

Police will allege the syndicate was fraudulently obtaining or trying to obtain mobile phones, with a total value of $2.5m, which were subsequently shipped overseas, primarily to Russia.

The quartet briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, where prosecutors were granted six weeks to prepare a brief of evidence.

The four men arrested have been hit with almost 100 charges.

Kaled, from Keilor Downs, faces 37 counts of obtaining property by deception, knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime and dealing in property suspected of being the proceeds of crime,

Mahmoud, from Taylors Lakes, faces 37 charges of obtaining property by deception, three of obtaining a financial advantage by deception, knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime and three of dealing in property suspected of being the proceeds of crime,

Youseff, from Sydenham, was charged with negligently dealing in the proceeds of crime and dealing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Mr Hovendene, from Melton, faces 12 counts of obtaining property by deception, recklessly dealing in the proceeds of crime and dealing in property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

All remain on bail and will return to court on June 26.

Investigators allege that their 18-month inquiry uncovered two fraudulently obtained mortgages and a fraudulently obtained vehicle with a total value of at least $1.36m.

The Chaouk clan are known for their longstanding feud with the Haddaras.

Ali Chaouk was jailed for 24 years in 2019 over the shooting murder of Mohammed Haddara in a suburban street in Altona North a decade earlier.