3 months ago
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Police have made the unusual decision to offer a $1 million reward for information over the murder of gangland figure Robert Issa, despite making a series of significant arrests last week.
Issa was shot dead in a shopping centre car park in Craigieburn, in Melbourne’s north, in October 2023, when men in balaclavas set upon him and an associate as they sat inside a white Mercedes-Benz station wagon during the day.
Robert Issa; the burnt-out car believed to have been used in the shooting; police at the scene.Credit: The Age
The men sprayed the vehicle with bullets, killing Issa and seriously injuring his associate in front of horrified shoppers, and fled the scene in a black Range Rover.
In a major breakthrough in the investigation, homicide detectives arrested and charged five men with Issa’s murder after a series of early-morning raids on a combined six properties in Kew, Mickleham, Pascoe Vale and Fawkner last Thursday.
Investigators believe the men arrested and charged – Dion Perrone, 29, Muhammed Sayan, 31, Bechara Bayrouty, 33, Christian Behrndt, 26, and Fabio Perrone, 26 – are foot soldiers who were contracted to carry out the hit.
All five have been charged with murder, attempted murder and destroying property by fire. They were all remanded in custody and will next appear in court on December 4.
Authorities in Greece arrested a sixth man believed to be connected to Issa’s murder at an airport in Athens on Thursday. The man was subject to an Interpol notice made on Australia’s behalf.
The federal Attorney-General’s Department confirmed an Australian citizen was arrested but did not provide any additional information on the allegations against him.
“As this matter is subject to proceedings in Greece, it is not appropriate to comment further,” the department said in a statement.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas, the head of the homicide squad, said Issa had a number of connections to organised crime groups, which added to the complexity of the investigation, including determining a motive for the murder.
As reported by The Age last week, Issa had amassed an enormous amount of ill will in the months before his murder after becoming involved in a tit-for-tat firebombing campaign with warring members of a crew. That led to more than a dozen arson attacks, including the torching of the Sonsa Market in Collingwood, and attempting to push into the illicit tobacco market.
Police arrest one of the men charged over Issa’s murder.Credit: Victoria Police
“Five men have been charged for their alleged roles in the shooting on the day, but as we have said, this offending involves more than just those in the car on the night – it’s the planning, the financing, those further up the chain and the facilitators,” Thomas said on Monday.
“We have already made clear we will do everything we can to identify every single person involved in both the planning and the execution, and now there are 1 million reasons to come forward with any information you may have.”
The reward will be paid at the discretion of the police chief commissioner for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the murder. The Director of Public Prosecutions will also consider granting immunity from prosecution to anyone who provides information about the identity of the main offender or offenders.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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