 Faruk "Frank"
Orman
A police source once told the Herald Sun that Orman did not have a long criminal history but was
regarded as a "player'' in the underworld.
He was an associate of Mick
Gatto and a friend of hitman Andrew
Veniamin since childhood.
Orman was present at
the December 22, 2003, meeting between
Gatto and Veniamin
at Crown casino.
It lasted more than two hours
and was called by Gatto
to "clear the air" between himself, Veniamin
and Carl Williams.
The meeting was
video-taped by the casino's security.
A court was later
told that a lip-reader was able to discern some of
Gatto's
statements, which included him telling Veniamin
and Williams
that they were "giving me shit".
Detective Senior
Constable Nigel L'Estrange, of the Purana
Taskforce, agreed that Gatto
was observed to tell Williams:
"Anything with you, that's your problem. But
if anything comes my way then I'll send somebody
to you... I'll be careful with you, be careful
with me. I believe you, you believe me, now we're
even. That's a warning."
Another one of Gatto's
associates who appeared at various times on the
videotape was Orman's constant companion Steve
Kaya.
Police allegedly found a pistol when they stopped Orman with two other men in a
car at North Melbourne in 2004.
But in October 2004 the Herald Sun
reported that he had beaten a firearms charge.
A Melbourne magistrate ruled
during the week that Orman could go free on a charge of
possessing an unregistered pistol.
Orman and the other men beat the charge because identification markings on the gun
had been obscured.
Magistrate Barbara Cottrell accepted this meant it could not be proved the gun
was unregistered and dismissed the case.
Orman and Kaya
were present at the La Porcella restaurant on
the day of Andrew Veniamin's
death when he was shot by Mick Gatto.
Orman then attended
Veniamin's
funeral.
 He also attended Lewis
Moran's funeral (right) with figures from the underworld's Carlton
Crew a week later.
Orman and Kaya
both
gave evidence at Gatto's
murder trial.
Orman said he had
retreated from his friendship in the last 18
months of Veniamin's
life: "Like, he was always unpredictable, you
know, but he just got a lot worse".
Gatto was later acquitted by a Supreme Court jury
on the grounds of self-defence.
On Thursday
December 14, 2006, Orman was arrested
and placed in custody for firing a shot towards a
man he and two associates had been photographing
in a Braybrook street.
They began taking
photographs of a man who was sitting in a car.
It was alleged the
man stuck his finger up at the trio, who returned
the gesture.
Orman produced a
handgun and fired a shot.
On December 20,
2006 Con Heliotis, QC, for Orman, questioned
whether the man in the car was carrying out
surveillance on his client.
Orman was bailed to
appear at a later date.
On June 22, 2007, Purana detectives arrested Orman, over the murder of underworld figure, Victor
Peirce, who was shot in May 2002.
Detectives swooped on an address in
Sunshine at 8am and took him to the Victoria Police St Kilda Rd
crime complex for questioning.
He later appeared in the Melbourne
Magistrates' Court.
Peirce was one of four men acquitted
of the 1988 murders of policemen Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre in Walsh
Street, South Yarra.
Victor Peirce's widow, Wendy Peirce, said after
her husband was killed she feared detectives would not try to solve the murder
because of their hatred of the police killer.
But she said the homicide squad and Purana had
never stopped working on the case.
Mrs Pierce sat between two Purana gangland
detectives during Orman's brief appearance in the Magistrates' Court where he
was remanded in custody on one count of murder for a committal mention in
September.
She thanked
detectives for their work but said she would not be celebrating
tonight.
But the man
police say fired the shots that killed Peirce will never stand trial as he also
became a victim of Melbourne's bloodiest gangland war.
The Purana
taskforce alleged Orman, 25,
was the driver of the two-man hit team but believe the man who shot Peirce was Andrew Veniamin.
Police say Peirce was killed because he accepted
and then reneged on a $200,000 deal to kill underworld gunman, Jason
Moran.
They believe Peirce was paid $100,000 in advance
and then refused to kill Moran warning the target that his life was in danger.
A second criminal, Mark Smith was also shot as
punishment for not carrying out the promised hit.
Peirce, 42, was shot in Bay St, Port Melbourne as he sat in his car.
On
September 13, 2007, Vince
Benvenuto, whose brother Frank
was shot dead outside his
Beaumaris house on May 8, 2000, was
arrested in a Caulfield Street by the Special Operations
Group.
He was charged with possessing
cocaine, amphetamines and an
unlicensed pistol.
After
his arrest Benvenuto, 54, was
interviewed by Purana detectives over
the murder of Victor
Peirce,
It is
believed Benvenuto was formally
cautioned and gave a "no
comment" record of interview on
legal advice.
Police
have established that Peirce was
waiting to meet Benvenuto when he was
killed.
Mick
Gatto associate and a close friend of
Orman, Steve Kaya
was also questioned about the Peirce murder by
the Purana taskforce.
Frank
and Vince
Benvenuto were the sons of Liborio
Benvenuto, who was the
undisputed Godfather of Melbourne for
more than 20 years before his death
from natural causes on June 10, 1988.
His
sons were major identities in
Melbourne's wholesale fruit and
vegetable market.
In the later 1990s,
Frank Benvenuto hired Peirce as
protection after a series of disputes
at the market and they became close
friends.
Detectives
were told that after Benvenuto's
murder a well-known underworld figure
rang Peirce to tell him of the
death.
They remain intrigued as to how
the figure knew of the hit before the
information was made public.
Following
the shooting, the hitman asked Peirce
for a meeting. According to Peirce's
wife, Wendy, the hitman wanted an
assurance that Pierce would not seek
revenge for his friend's murder.
Mrs
Peirce said (the hitman) "wanted
a meeting with Victor and they met in
a Port Melbourne park. He wanted to
know if Victor was going to back up
for Frank. He was his best mate.
Victor took a gun and (the hitman)
would have been armed."
Mrs
Peirce said both gunmen agreed there
would be no more violence. But police
say those who organised the hit on
Frank Benvenuto remained concerned
that Peirce might decide to strike
back and ordered his death.
Detectives
are now investigating claims that
Vince Benvenuto was asked to assist on
behalf of a senior gangland identity.
The
head of the Purana taskforce,
Detective Inspector Gavan Ryan, said:
"We are progressing on a number
of gangland murders. We will keep
going no matter how long it
takes."
Mick
Gatto's connection to Kaya
and Orman
has focused attention on Gatto and his
friends.
Questions also surrounded contact between Gatto and
Vince Benvenuto in the hours before Pierce's murder.
One piece of the puzzle in the investigation is
photographs secretly taken of Gatto meeting another member of the Benvenuto
family in the middle of a city park 48 hours before Peirce's murder.
Peirce was shot around the time he had arranged to meet Vince Benvenuto
in Port Melbourne.
Gatto's lawyer, Brian Rolfe, says that having
closely scrutinised the brief against Orman there "is not the slightest
possibility of Mr Gatto being implicated in (the murder of Peirce) in any
way".
Police will say only that their investigations
into the gangland murders are progressing.
On March 11, 2008, a preliminary hearing for Faruk Orman began at Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
The court heard Peirce] was gunned down by Andrew Veniamin in a hearing for the accused getaway driver, 26, of Sunshine, who appeared at a commital hearing, charged with the murder of Peirce six years before.
Defence barrister Robert Richter QC told the court there was no question that "Benji" Veniamin killed Peirce, saying he undoubtedly planned and carried out the execution.
Mr Richter said much of the case against his client was based on claims by Venimain made to other parties including an informer that may not be admissible.
The informer is due to give evidence tomorrow.
Orman was remanded in custody.
On March 12, 2008, an underworld associate was asked if it was okay for hitman Andrew Veniamin to kill Victor Peirce, a court witness said.
The witness, known as witness B for legal reasons, told the court he approached underworld associate Michael Laverde two weeks before Peirce's murder to ask if it was okay for Veniamin to kill him.
He told the court he discussed the planned hit with Mr Laverde at his dry-cleaning business in suburban Coburg.
"I approached him because I thought he may have been friends with Victor Peirce," witness B told the court.
"He didn't care, as it was nothing to do with him," he said.
Witness B said that in the underworld there was an unwritten understanding if someone had been targeted, that it was discussed.
"In the underworld, if people are going to get knocked they ask others about it," witness B said.
"Some ask and some don't.
"Usually in the underworld ... if we can try to stop a shooting we will."
Witness B told the court that Veniamin confessed to Peirce's murder.
He said that Veniamin told him that he and Orman had planned to meet Peirce in a car park but saw him in Bay Street and decided to pull up alongside his car.
Witness B has denied any role in Peirce's murder.
He also told the court that Veniamin, who was shot dead in a Carlton restaurant in 2004, confessed to murdering another crime figure Dino Dibra in 2000.
He alleged that Orman had also been Veniamin's get-away driver in that murder.
On March 13, 2008, the court was told Victorian detectives were not told of phone intercepts which could have led them to the alleged killers of Peirce until five years after he was shot dead.
Melbourne Magistrates Court was also told an underworld associate was asked if it was okay for hitman Andrew Veniamin to kill Peirce.
Purana Taskforce Detective Sergeant Boris Buick told the court Orman became a suspect in Peirce's murder after the police informer known only as witness B made statements to police in 2006.
Those statements were corroborated by Australian Crime Commission telephone intercepts, Det Sgt Buick told the court.
"It was when he (Orman) was first nominated," he said.
"And after a review of Australian Crime Commission telephone intercepts which corroborated his (witness B) statements."
But he told the court Purana detectives did not know about the phone intercepts until five years after Peirce's murder.
"Telephone intercepts were held by the Australian Crime Commission and were not released to us until five years later," Det Sgt Buick said.
He said police had information showing Orman picked up Veniamin on the night of Peirce's murder, and both men's mobile phones were not used between 8.30pm and 11pm.
"It was about 8pm or shortly after on May 1, 2002 (Orman picked up Veniamin)," Det Sgt Buick said. "Both Veniamin and Orman turned their phones off during the time of the murder."
Witness B told the court he approached underworld associate Michael Laverde two weeks before Peirce's murder to ask if it was okay for Veniamin to carry out the hit.
He said he discussed the planned hit with Mr Laverde at his dry-cleaning business in suburban Coburg.
"I approached him because I thought he may have been friends with Victor Peirce," witness B said.
"He didn't care, as it was nothing to do with him."
Witness B said it was common for underworld figures to discuss when someone had been targeted, in order to avoid deaths.
"In the underworld, if people are going to get knocked they ask others about it," witness B said.
"Some ask and some don't. Usually in the underworld ... if we can try to stop a shooting we will."
Witness B has denied any role in Peirce's murder.
The court also heard Mick Gatto helped Andrew Veniamin "set up"Peirce, who was killed before he could get revenge on the pair for killing Frank Benvenuto.
The underworld informer told police Peirce was murdered after he found out that Gatto had ordered Veniamin to kill Benvenuto.
Benvenuto, who hired Peirce as protection after a series of disputes at the market in the late 1990s, was shot dead outside his Beaumaris house on May 8, 2000.
"About two years after Frank's murder, Andrew said he heard Peirce had found out it was him who had killed Frank and he was worried that Peirce was going to get revenge on him and Mick Gatto. That's why he asked Mick to help him set up Peirce," the informer told police.
He said Veniamin had previously worked for Benvenuto but changed allegiances when Gatto found out Benvenuto had put a contract on his life.
"Andrew told me that Gatto gave him an ultimatum: that he come and work for him and take care of Frank Benvenuto or else Andrew would cop it," he said.
That evening Gatto denied the allegations, describing the informer as a renowned liar and the dead men as his friends, before adding: "The truth will come out."
The informer disputed rumours that Carl Williams ordered Peirce's murder because he reneged on a $200,000 deal to kill rival gangster Jason Moran. "(Williams) hadn't even met Andrew at this stage, as I was the one who introduced Andrew to Carl when he got out of jail after Peirce's murder," he told police.
Two statements made by the informer were tendered to Melbourne Magistrates Court.
The informer, a drug dealer who has confessed involvement in two gangland murders, said Orman was the driver for Veniamin
The informer said Gatto had Frank Benvenuto's brother, Vince Benvenuto, set up Peirce, to whom he was supplying drugs.
He said Vince Benvenuto arranged to meet Peirce at the rooftop car park of a Port Melbourne supermarket but, when Pierce didn't turn up, they arranged another meeting the following night.
The informer said Veniamin was "obsessed" with getting Peirce and became depressed when Pierce didn't show up to the first meeting. "Andrew's reputation was that of a killer. That was his profession and he loved it," he said. He said Veniamin asked for Gatto's help because he was having "a lot of trouble finding Peirce".
In the March 16, 2008, Sunday Herald Sun, Mick Gatto broke a three-year silence to refute claims he was behind several unsolved underworld hits.
Gatto and his legal team said they have information that contradicts the allegations made against him.
Mr Gatto's team may produce documentary evidence in a bid to clear his name.
Mr Gatto and his lawyers say his name is being tarnished despite the fact that there are no charges against him.
"I find these allegations scurrilous," Mr Gatto said.
"I've never arranged a hit on anyone."
Mr Gatto said he believed he was being defamed as part of a personal vendetta.
He said he believed it was happening because as far as police were concerned, "I'm the only one who's got through the loop".
"It's annoying for me. It's annoying for my family. It's annoying for everyone. Personally I just want to be left alone."
Mr Gatto said he had told police he was prepared to be interviewed if he was suspected of anything, but they had not taken up the offer.
He said that otherwise his life was good.
"I've got no complaints. I try to mind my own business and keep my head held high," Mr Gatto said.
But he said he believed modern policing was eroding civil liberties.
Saying that the police have a powerful tool, Mr Gatto said "they can put people up (in custody) for 23 hours a day with no contact with the outside world until they've rolled over".
"And once they've rolled over, they turn them into puppets. Accused people who are innocent until proven guilty are locked away in a little eight-by-four room," he said.
"They drive people to the point that they are so desperate, they say anything at all to get out of there."
Mr Gatto had avoided the limelight since being acquitted of murdering Veniamin in 2005.
He said the previous week that reports Veniamin was "like a son to him" were not accurate.
"I used to see him once a week, once a fortnight. He was a powerful little figure over in Sunshine," he said.
A Victoria Police spokewoman declined to respond to Mr Gatto's comments.
Gatto helped hit: informer
By Kate Hagan
The Age
March 14, 2008
Detectives not told of phone intercepts
Herald Sun
March 13, 2008
Peirce hit after permission sought, court hears
Herald Sun
March 13, 2008
Andrew Veniamin shot Vicor Peirce, court told
By Elissa Hunt
Herald Sun
March 11, 2008
Gatto in bid to end claims
By Liam Houlihan
Sunday Herald Sun
March 16, 2008
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