Pair face court accused of $2 million jewellery heist
Two men arrested over a jewellery heist worth almost $2 million are accused of posing as tradies before they bound and gagged the store owner, making off with jewels and cash.
Masoud Izadi, 60, from Pakenham, and Kamran Orouji, 66, from Doncaster faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday in separate court hearings, charged with armed robbery and assault-related offences.
Masoud Izadi and Karaman Ouriji faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.Credit:Wayne Taylor
At Izadi’s hearing, the court heard police were in the process of analysing security vision from the scene and telephone intercepts with multiple foreign languages recorded.
Samples of DNA were also to be tested.
Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg noted it was Izadi’s first time in custody and ordered that he receive a medical assessment for a broken wrist.
Police previously revealed two men entered the jewellery store in Dandenong where they allegedly assaulted and threatened a worker with a knife, forcing him to open the safe, about 6pm on December 29.
Court documents released to the press allege Izadi – armed with a knife and metal bar – assaulted and imprisoned the victim before holding them against their will during the incident.
Izadi then allegedly stole items, including 21-carat gold jewellery, cash and a CCTV hard drive, from the store valued at $1.93 million.
Izadi is also charged with destroying the store’s CCTV system and the theft of the store’s black 2014 Range Rover sports wagon worth $90,000.
Police allege that on February 1 Izadi was found in possession of $3500, suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
Three men were arrested as part of the police investigation: Izadi, Orouji and a 38-year-old Narre Warren man.
Izadi and Orouji were later charged with armed robbery and assault-related offences, while the 38-year-old was charged with trafficking methylamphetamine.
Izadi made no application for bail and was remanded to reappear in court in April.
Various items were located relating to the alleged crime when Orouji was arrested at his home on February 1, including a mobile phone, which included the contact details of the victim.
Police allege that the victim and Orouji are known to each other. However, no communications were found between the two on the device.
Orouji is a carer for his wife, who has cancer and is paralysed, and one of his children. He was granted bail on strict conditions.
“The informant gave evidence about the wife’s state of health, and they would appear to be quite dire,” Rozencwajg said.
Orouji will reappear in court in June.
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