Man accused of gold heist hid loot in Dollar, court told
A man initially believed to be a victim in a brazen daylight gold robbery in Melbourne’s CBD was soon charged with playing a role in the heist. Now a court has heard he looked for the haul just days after in a town called Dollar.
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The alleged inside man in a multimillion-dollar gold robbery searched for the loot in a town called Dollar days after one of Victoria’s biggest heists, a court has been told.
Daniel Ede, 37, was initially believed to be a victim in the brazen daylight robbery at the Melbourne Gold Company in April, telling police he had been robbed at gunpoint by a man wearing a surgical mask.
But soon after, detectives charged Mr Ede with having played a role in the heist alongside Karl Kachami, who is accused of having made off with almost $3.9 million in gold bullion, cash and jewellery.
Details of the robbery were aired in court for the first time on Wednesday as Mr Ede, a father of three, applied for bail.
CCTV footage of the hold-up allegedly showed Mr Kachami entering the Collins St business shortly before 10am on April 27 before creeping up behind Mr Ede and pulling out a black Glock handgun.
Senior Constable Sarah Inglese told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court there was no magazine in the gun, and the gunman put it away when he thought Mr Ede had turned off the security cameras.
A white ute belonging to Mr Ede’s father-in-law was spotted in the rural town of Dollar where some of the cash and jewels were later found buried, the court heard.
More than $300,000 in cash remained missing and prosecutors said they feared Mr Ede would retrieve it if granted bail.
Theo Alexander, for Mr Ede, said the case was circumstantial and his client, who had no prior convictions, should be bailed to care for his family.
Magistrate Ross Maxted will deliver his decision after hearing Mr Kachami’s bid for bail today.