Timeline 2000 - 2001

Other Timelines: 1900 - 1979    1980-1989    1990-1999    2002    2003    2004    2005    2006    2007    2008

Jan 17, 2000 Footy star Schwarz gives reference for Moran associate

A reference from champion Melbourne footballer David Schwarz helped a man with underworld links to escape jail. Darren William Harland was caught with a loaded gun while visiting gangster friend Jason Moran at Fulham prison, in eastern Victoria, in 1999.
Moran was an associate of slain gangster Alphonse Gangitano and half-brother of gangland murder victim Mark Moran.

Harland and an unidentified friend fled when prison guards called police. He was arrested later in Melbourne.

Harland, a former VFA player for Werribee and Port Melbourne, pleaded guilty to charges including owning an unlicensed handgun but was not jailed.

February 7, 2000 Mark Moran caught with drugs, gun

Mark Moran was arrested  after police intercepted him driving a luxury sports car. When they searched it detectives found a hi-tech handgun and a quantity of stamped amphetamine tablets. These were the same as those obtained by police in a raid the day after Moran's shooting.

March 2000 Former cop Hicks pleads innocence

Detective Kevin John Hicks pleaded guilty to one charge of bribery, one count of theft and two counts of burglary. The offences occurred from January 21, 1992 to May 15, 1993 when Hicks allowed drug dealer Peter Pilarinos and his team to remove confiscated drugs from a police store.

April 10, 2000 Court told of police drug cartel at Hicks hearing

A drug cartel had operated within the Victoria police force for at least a decade, counsel for a confessed drug trafficker told a Supreme Court judge.

In pre-defence submissions, the defence counsel, Mr Brian Cash, said Peter Pilarinos would say that Kevin John Hicks, a "pitiful" former drug squad detective he bribed to obtain keys to a police drug compound, was "but a minnow" and subservient to other corrupt officers.

April 29, 2000

Cop suspect in Thurgood- Dove murder failed a lie detector test.

The polygraph machine used to test a serving police officer suspected as having been implicated in the 1997 murder of Niddrie mother of three, Jane Thurgood-Dove is believed to have indicated he answered dishonestly when asked if he was responsible for Mrs Thurgood-Dove's death.

He is believed to have denied any part in the murder.

May 6, 2000 Gatto guilty of dodgy punting splurge

A court heard a punting frenzy lost a gambler more than $300,000 in a day after he placed nearly half a million dollars in bets using a false name.

Mick Gatto, 44, of East Doncaster, and an associate of Alphonse Gangitano, faced deception charges after allegedly placing 39 telephone bets with bookmaker Rodney Cleary on June 12, 1999.

May 8, 2000 Frank Benvenuto shot dead

Frank Benvenuto, the son of former Melbourne Godfather Liborio, was shot dead in Beaumaris. Frank Benvenuto employed Victor Peirce during the 1980's.

May 10, 2000 Drugs, guns, cash found at St Kilda cop shop 

Seizures of drugs, guns and money at the were made at the headquarters of the Criminal Intelligence Unit at St Kilda Police Station. Police sources said the search uncovered several guns, including a sawn-off rifle, cannabis seeds, money and white powder that was found to be heroin.

May 16, 2000

Mlandenich shot dead

Drug dealer and stand over man Richard Mlandenich was shot dead at a St Kilda flat.

He had been released from jail a month before and had shared a room with Chopper Read whilst inside.

Mlandenich was said to be a giant of a man as well as being extremely violent.

Had a criminal record of more than nine pages with most charges relating to street violence. He also had 24 aliases including John Mancini and RIchard Mantello.

June 14, 2000 Melbourne speed factories raided 

In a series of raids on Melbourne speed factories, several arrests are made including that of a large amphetamines dealer known as the 'Penguin'.

June 15, 2000

Mark Moran shot dead 

Mark Moran is murdered  outside his luxury home in Combermere St, Aberfeldie, near Essendon. Rumours abound that he may have been killed in revenge for the murder of self-styled gangster, Alphonse Gangitano. Mark was a known associate of Frank Benvenuto, son of former Melbourne Godfather Liborio, who was shot dead in Beaumauris the previous month.

The following day 5000 stamped amphetamine tablets the same as those found in Mark Moran's possession in February were obtained by police raids including one on Mark's former football club president Jeffrey Robert Milne.

It was the widely held belief that rival drug dealer Carl Williams was the person responsible for shooting Moran.

June 16, 2000

Appeal fails for Krakouer

Former AFL star Jimmy Krakouer will remain in jail after failing to persuade the High Court to allow an appeal against his 16-year sentence for helping transport amphetamines from Melbourne to Perth. Three High Court justices rejected arguments put forward by Krakouer's lawyer Mark Dean that his sentence was out of line with the jail terms imposed on his co-offenders on similar charges. Mr Dean had argued that Krakouer deserved a sentence in line with those imposed by the County Court of Victoria on Ronald Foster and John William Higgs. Foster received two years and nine months, with 21 months suspended. Higgs was jailed for six years, with a minimum of four. But the High Court ruled that Krakouer had no factual foundation to pursue an appeal. Justice Michael McHugh said neither Higgs nor Foster had been charged with being accessories to the same crimes Krakouer had been charged with and the evidence was not strong enough to establish a link.

June 20, 2000 Sawn-off found at Benalla cop shop 

The Victoria Police ethical standards department is investigating the discovery of a sawn-off shotgun hidden underneath a locker in the change rooms of the Benalla police station The discovery comes just five weeks after a several guns and drugs were found hidden in the ceiling of the St Kilda police station.

The Benalla Criminal Investigation Unit is the former stamping ground of disgraced detectives Denis Tanner - named by State Coroner Graeme Johnstone as the killer of his sister-in-law, Jennifer Tanner, who was shot in 1978 - and Kevin Hicks, who was recently jailed for seven-and-a-half years for his part in a break-in at the police drug storage compound at Attwood. The two former detectives worked together at Benalla for several months before Hicks was arrested in May 1997.

June 22, 2000 500 gather at Mark Moran funeral

About 500 mourners dressed in black coats and dark sunglasses gathered to farewell slain gangster Mark Moran.
Moran's half brother, Jason, granted day leave from prison to be at the funeral at St Therese's Church in Essendon, sat under guard with his head in his hands during the service.

July 10,  2000 Andrew Fraser police tapes revealed

Police taped private conversations between high-profile Melbourne solicitor, Andrew Fraser, (previously a representative for the likes of Alan Bond, Dennis Allen and Anthony Farrell) and his clients that were unrelated to their cocaine trafficking investigation, a court heard. Brothers of gunned-down underworld figure Mark Moran were under investigation. Fraser, a tough criminal lawyer had been a major obstacle between a successful Walsh Street murder conviction for Farrell et al.

July 13, 2000 Tom Scriva dies

Tom Scriva, a solicitor with links to the Benvenuto clan, Russell Street bombing suspects and those accused of the Walsh Street shootings died of natural causes. It is revealed that Scriva had ripped off many criminals in his loan scams.

July 15, 2000 Drug Squad head retires

Detective Chief Inspector John McKoy, retired as head of the drug squad.

July 16, 2000 Photo-fit of Silk-Miller shooter released

Police distributed nationwide a detailed photofit of a man wanted over the killing of two police officers in Melbourne almost two years ago. It was the strongest lead to come out of the 23-month investigation into the shootings of Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller. It had been derived from a photograph investigator Paul Sheridan and his Operation Lorimer Taskforce  had in their possession. It was of 19 year-old Jason Roberts the son-in-law and alleged accomplice of Bandali Michael Debs.

July 22, 2000

Mercuri dies

Santo Mecuri, the man convicted of the Brunswick armed robbery and shooting of security guard Dominik Hefti, died of a suspected heart attack at Barwon Prison.

Mecuri had remained very fit whilst in prison and was feared amongst other inmates.

The Brunswick shooting was alleged to have also involved the now dead Mark Moran and brother Jason as well as Russell 'Mad Dog' Cox.

The robbery led to the police shooting of another suspect, Graeme Jensen and possibly the Walsh Street Shootings.

July 25, 2000 Two arrests in Silk-Miller shootings

Two men aged 47 and 19 were arrested today over the 1998 killings of police officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller, police said today. Arrested were 47-year-old Bandali Michael Debs and Jason Roberts. They resided in the Narre Warre/ Cranbourne area and possessed a dark coloured Hyundai which had been damaged and repaired.

There were also arrests in Sydney where firearms were found in the raid on a home. Victorian Chief Commissioner Neil Comrie said the arrests were a defining point in the history of the Victorian police. "This is a day we have been waiting for, for two year," Mr Comrie said.

July 31, 2000 Missing police pistol reappears

The missing Beretta pistol, stolen from a drug squad safe in late 1999, appeared, clean of prints, in an un-marked envelope back in the inspectors office. A Sunday Herald Sun report on November 25, 2001, stated that the pistol had been returned with a different barrel and firing pin.

August 2000 

Darren Harland caught with a gun at Fulham Prison

Harland happened to be visiting notorious gangster, Jason Moran.

A loaded semi-automatic Phoenix .22 pistol was found in a bag in his car. When asked if it was his gun he replied: “ It wasn’t in there when we pulled up”.

Harland and an unidentified friend, fled when the guards called police.

Harland had driven to the prison with a man who fled the scene after the gun was discovered by prison authorities. The man remained unidentified and at large.

Harland was arrested in Melbourne shortly after.

Harland was later convicted on two gun charges and fined $3500. He was sentenced to six months jail, suspended for a year.

August 2000 Footy star Carey gives reference for Jason Moran

AFL Star Wayne Carey gives character evidence in the trial of Gangster Jason Moran for his involvement in a brawl involving slain mafia figure Alphonse Gangiatano.

Moran was part of what police termed the new breed of 'Bollinger' drug dealers selling to celebrities and the new rich. This was similar Dennis Allen had gained in the 1980's. 

September 27, 2007

Thurgood-Dove suspect dead

Steven John Mordy died in bed at his North Geelong home.

Mordy was suspected by police of being the bungling gunman who shot Jane Thurgood-Dove in 1997 instead of a neighbour who was the intended target.

A Coroner's Court report found the most likely cause of death was a heart condition and that amphetamines may have contributed.

October 11, 2000 Beljajev found not guilty

Boris Beljajev was found not guilty of commercial heroin trafficking.

October 13, 2000

Beljajev acquitted - Lewenberg accused

Boris Beljajev and two other men, Leslaw Kunz and Larry Lambert, were acquitted after after a 15-month retrial.

Mr Beljajev's, was on remand for 5 1/2 years before he was finally cleared after three trials on cocaine and heroin charges.

Colourful Melbourne legal identity, Alex Lewenberg, was not in the dock during the marathon Boris Beljajev trial but he was accused of being Mr Beljajev's accomplice.

The Crown claimed the city solicitor was the legal adviser to Mr Beljajev's alleged heroin trafficking business. 

October 14, 2000 Dino Dibra shot dead 

A gun-loving gangster connected to cocaine and ecstasy trafficking died in a hail of bullets.

Dino Dibra was known to fancy himself as another Alphonse Gangitano and his wish was brutally realised. At the time of his death, Dibra was awaiting trial with another man over the shooting of two bouncers at the Dome nightclub in Prahran and a western suburbs kidnapping.

"There were about six shots, then a car load of men drove off. It sounded like two different guns going off. The last three shots were louder than the first three". Sources told the Herald Sun Dibra was known to murdered gangsters Mark Moran and Charlie Hegyalji.

October 22, 2000 Dips millionaire shot dead in street 

Christos Saristavros, a self-made millionaire who started the popular Poseidon brand of dips and spreads, was shot in the chest from close range after a confrontation with an unknown.

The Sandringham man was shot dead in front of his wife after attending a charity function.

November 2000 Half ton ephedrine recovered as police focus on Mokbel

Police recovered 550kg of ephedrine which could produce $2b worth of illicit drugs when it was seized from a shipping container of ceramic toilets.

The container had been delivered to a Coburg factory.

The four men accused of trafficking the drug were later arrested in a huge dock-side drug seizure on August 24. 2001.

The raids saw police confiscating the red Ferrari and plush Port Melbourne penthouse belonging to Tony Mokbel. In all $15m worth of assets were frozen.

December 2000 Drug Squad chemicals missing

An audit discovers drug making chemicals bought by the drug squad for sting operations are missing. Investigators suspect police officers ordering drugs without authorisation and selling them to criminals for massive profit.

December 2000 Lewis Moran in sting

Lewis Moran, the father of the notorious Jason Moran, was accused of selling hashish for $25,000 to a police informer.

Lewis Moran was later arrested with alleged drug baron Tony Mockbel.

December 10, 2000 Comrie to quit

Chief Commissioner Neil Comrie decided to step down next March after eight turbulent and headline-hitting years in the job.

January 15-31, 2001 Former detective accused of brothel bribes

Police later alleged that between January 15 and 31 2001, former detective Russell Bassett falsely told the owner of Gotham City brothel in South Melbourne, who was applying to vary a brothel licence, that a serving police officer on the board of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal would preside over his application.

January 19, 2001

Thugood-Dove killer's driver offered amnesty

The driver of get away car allegedly used in the 1997 murder of Jane Thurgood-Dove was offered an amnesty in an agreement between police and the Department of Public Prosecutions.

Police later indicated that the getaway driver could be eligible for the reward.

Detectives admitted that after almost four years, they had come no closer to solving the murder.

Det. Insp. Brian Rix of the homicide squad said the unknown driver held the key to solving the crime and maybe spared prosecution.

"It is a Quantum Leap to go from stealing a car to being implicated in a murder as horrendous as this one"' Rix said.

Feb 2, 2001 Football club president says 'drugs were Moran's'

A football club president found with a massive haul of amphetamines claims they belonged to a gangster mate Mark Anthony Moran murdered in an execution-style slaying.

Jeffrey Robert Milne appeared in a County Court witness box to say more than 3kg of the drug had been stored in his back yard bungalow by the half brother of jailed Jason Moran. Milne, 37 of Intervail Drive Avondale Heights, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in a drug of dependence and one of possessing a drug of dependence.
Judge Barnett remanded him in custody for later sentencing.

Feb 11, 2001 No evidence of Moran pressure in drug case

There was no evidence a gangster who was later murdered had pressured a mate to hide a massive haul of amphetamines, a judge has said.

Nor had Jeffrey Robert Milne tried to get rid of the illicit drugs he claimed murder victim Mark Anthony Moran had stockpiled in his Avondale Heights bungalow.

But County Court Judge John Barnett accepted 37-year-old Milne was a man easily seduced who may have simply provided a warehouse for more than 3kg of drugs.
Police found the drugs in his possession the day after Moran was shot dead in the drive of his home in June in 2000.

Milne, former president of the Kensington Football Club and a popular local community identity, had pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking a drug of dependence and one of possessing a drug of dependence. In sentencing Milne on Friday, Judge Barnett said he was unable to say what Milne's role had been in the drug haul. But the judge said Milne must have been aware of the seriousness of trafficking drugs. The judge told Milne he could have stopped Moran hiding the drugs at his home. He could have locked his doors, sought advice from others or reported the matter to police. Being ``as generous as he could'', Judge Barnett sentenced him to three years' jail.

Feb 15, 2001 Pilarinos jail term cut to four year minimum

A Court reduced a cancer-stricken drug trafficker's jail term for bribing a policeman into giving him the keys to a police chemical store.

Three Court of Appeal judges agreed with Peter Pilarinos' original sentence of 8 1/2 years with a minimum of six, but said his bladder cancer would make jail especially tough for him.

They reduced Pilarinos' minimum sentence to four years and set a maximum of 7 1/2 years.

March 22, 2001 Man shot dead in Armadale park

A 41-year-old man from Oakleigh was shot dead in a small suburban park in Armadale at about 11pm.

A visitor in the area found the man's body about 15 minutes later in the park at corner of Inverness Avenue and The Terrace.

Police identified the man as George Germanos.

He was dressed in an open-necked white shirt, dark jacket and pants with black boots.

Police said today he had suffered gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

"It’s certainly gruesome. It appears to be quite a ghastly scene. It appears he’s been shot a number of times," said Detective Inspector Andrew Allen.

April 16, 2001

 

More police involvement with ecstasy?

Reyn Rekhaviashili was arrested during an early morning raid on his hotel room in St Kilda.

It is alleged police found 1157 pills- some containing ecstasy, others methamphetamine and ketamine - in packets on Mr Rekhviashvili and in his room safe as well as $35,000 in cash.

It was later alleged Mr Rekhviashvili offered a detective $35,000 to avoid having to face trial.

Reyn Rekhviashvili was taped giving the officer a $5000 down-payment on the alleged bribe, Melbourne Magistrates' was later told.

Sen-Constable Steve Trewavas was also allegedly given tickets to persuasion from an articled clerk and another detective to accept the money.

Sen-Constable Trewavas later told a court Mr Rekhviashvili contacted him after the arrest offering the money in the safe in return for dropping or reducing some of the charges against him.

Ali Aydin, an articled clerk acting for Mr Rekhviashvili, and Sen-Constable Darrin Flett tried to persuade the St Kilda detective to a lesser charge, the court heard.

Mr Aydin and Sen-Constable Flett allegedly invited Sen-Constable Trewavas to a kickboxing match at the Vodaphone Arena a month later, on July 26.

More

April 23, 2001 Nixon sworn in

Christine Nixon sworn in as Chief Commissioner.

May 2001

Williams says police threatened to kill him

In an interview with the ABC's Jonathon Holmes, Carl Williams claimed that in May 2001 he was subjected to death threats by a Drug Squad detective.

"I'm taken from there past the police station down to a park, where I'm told I'm gonna be killed."

"This is where you're gonna die, be killed."

" There was a big shipping container next to where they were pointing at."

July 26, 2001 Police allegedly paid off at kick-boxing night

Reyn Rekhaviashili, arrested during an early morning drug raid on his hotel room in St Kilda on April 16, met a detective and allegedly handed over $5000 as part of a $35,000 bribe, as police secretly taped them.

Reyn Rekhaviashili, 27, of Carnegie, was allegedly caught with 1157 pills- some containing ecstasy, others methamphetamine and ketamine - in packets on his person and in his room safe as well as $35,000 in cash.

Ali Aydin, an articled clerk, and Sen-Constable Darrin Flett had allegedly invited another police officer, Sen-Constable Steve Trewavas, to a kickboxing match at the Vodaphone Arena.

Sen-Constable Trewavas later told a court Mr Rekhviashvili contacted him after the April 16 arrest offering the money in the safe in return for dropping or reducing some of the charges against him.

Ali Aydin, acting for Mr Rekhviashvili, and Sen-Constable Darrin Flett tried to persuade the St Kilda detective to a lesser charge, the court heard.

Sen-Constable Flett, who went on paid leave, Mr Aydinand Mr Rekhviashvili will face a preliminary hearing of the bribery allegations in July 2002.

July 30, 2001 Drug squad detective sergeant Rosenes arrested in Caulfield ecstasy raids

Police seized a massive quantity of ecstasy tablets in a series of raids in the Caulfield area. One of the men arrested was drug squad detective sergeant Malcolm Rosenes.

Sectors of the community and the Victorian government called for an inquiry into the drug squad after investigations relating to Rosenes revealed that members of the squad were in deed operating their own drug cartel.

August 1, 2001 Former drug squad detective Stephen Paton arrested

Former detective, Steven Paton (who recently resigned from the force) was arrested for trafficking and possessing a commercial quantity of drugs.

After the arrest, it became evident that there would be a review of the drug squad in the near future.

August 1, 2001 Former drug squad detective kidnapped in speed grab

Former drug squad detective-sergeant, Russell Bassett was kidnapped in a pseudoephedrine heist. Police command said that Bassett had not been a member of the drug squad for some years.

In the states biggest drug robbery to date, about 125kg of pure pseudoephedrine - commonly used in the production of amphetamines- was stolen in a daylight raid. The drugs had an estimated street value of $10m.

August 4, 2001 Ombudsman to oversee detective inquiry

The Herald Sun reported that Victoria's 784 Detectives will come under close scrutiny in Victoria's most serious Police Inquiry.

Random integrity tests, checks on the use of informants, limited tenure in crime squads, performance contracts and a management overhaul will also be considered as part of the inquiry. The Inquiry will be overseen by Dr. Barry Perry and will take several months.

August 10, 2001 Former drug squad detective Stephen Paton bailed

Jailed former drug squad detective, Steven Paton was granted bail on four counts of possessing commercial quantities of illicit drugs.

Paton's solicitor Joe Gullaci, told the magistrates court that his clients life had been threatened after he was remanded into custody the previous week.

"After twenty years in the police force there are a lot of people in jail who would like to get their hands on him", Gullaci said.

One charge was that Paton and another jailed former drug squad detective Malcolm Rosenes, allegedly duped a Mitcham chemical company into selling them illicit chemicals.

August 13, 2001 Five men arrested over $130million hash haul

Three men imported almost three tonnes of hashish with a street value of between $132 and $147 million into Melbourne.

A drug importation outfit who used false names to set up bogus mobile phone accounts and a front company to import cannabis resin hidden beneath false floors in two shipping containers.

The containers, also carrying marble tiles, were picked up from East Swanson docks and trucked to a yard on the Hume Hwy at Campbellfield, arriving about 10.15pm.

Federal police watched five of the men as they arrived at the yard, driving trucks and utilities and unloaded the marble tiles before breaking into the containers false floors.

The men were arrested trying to flee or hide in the yard.

Tony Crnac, 34 of Banbara Court, Sunshine; Paul Pratico, 32, of Cartwright St, Oak Park; David Ciampoli, 42, of Barva Drive, East Keilor; Jessie Franco, 32, of Pascoe Vale Rd, Essendon; and Robert Cetranglo, 32, of Buckley St, Essendon, were all arrested on the night.

They face charges of knowingly importing a commercial quantity of hashish and possessing a commercial amount of hashish.

Two more of the gang were arrested and charged on August 30.

August 21, 2001 Report reveals 110 police charged in 22 months.

The Herald Sun reported that more than 110 Victoria Police officers were charged with criminal offences in just 22 months. Officers had been charged with rape, sexual assault, fraud, illegal firearms sales, drink driving and tampering with evidence.

Drug dealing charges were also issued on at least three occasions, said Ethical Standards Department document, released to the public under FOI.

Since 1988, 63 officers have been dismissed, with 153 members brought before disciplinary heading and 270 charges proved.

One case  saw an inspector fined after a firearm disappeared from a police safe.

August 24, 2001 Tony Mokbel and Lewis Moran arrested in Port Melbourne drug bust

A Ferrari and a penthouse were seized in Victoria's biggest drug raid.

Drugs confiscated in a raid at Beacon Cove, Port Melbourne, included ephedrine capable of making 40 million amphetamine pills which could be sold as fake ecstasy.

The Herald-Sun reported that men who lived in multi-million dollar mansions, invested in property development and were racetrack punters were among those charged.

Those arrested included Tony Mokbel 32, and Lewis Moran. He is the father of notorious underworld figure, Jason Moran.

Also to front the court was a Fawkner man who acted as a gopher. He had been arrested two days previously and bailed. The man was released again on a $250,000 surety.

A Kew brother and sister aged 32 and 33 were remanded in custody on ecstasy trafficking charges to re-appear in January 2002.

August 30, 2001 Neil O'Loughlin to retire

The Herald Sun reported that Neil O'Loughlin was to retire from the police force when his term as Deputy Commissioner in February 2002.

Assistant commissioners Noel Perry and Noel Ashby are the favourites to assume O'Loughlin's role.

Former drug squad detective Malcolm Rosenes was bailed after almost a month on remand. Legal representatives for Rosenes argued that their client's life was under constant danger whilst he was incarcerated alongside some of the states most dangerous criminals.

Rosenes alleged that former Bandidos Motorcycle Club national Secretary Robert Sloan had put a jail house contract on Rosenes life.

Sloan received bail the following day,

August 30, 2001 500 ecstasy tablets stolen from police complex

The Sunday Age reported that police discovered that up to 500 ecstasy tablets worth $25,000 had been stolen from protected areas of the St Kilda Road police complex and another batch of designer pills was missing from Moonee Ponds police station.

In the raid at St Kilda Road, the drugs, seized in an organised crime squad investigation were taken from the exhibit management unit, set up to secure court exhibits. It is believed that a swipe-card was used to allow access to the drugs.

It was also revealed that in early 2001, a similar number of ecstasy tablets had disappeared from Moonee Ponds. Members of the ethical standards department said that they believed the crimes were committed by police.

August 30, 2001 Two more arrested for hash

Federal Agents charged two brothers over the importation of hashish worth over $130 million after they originally detained five others on August 13.

Arrested where Rahib Karam, 35, after a search of his Brunswick Rd, Brunswick home and the North Melbourne offices of his business, Freight Trade International.

His brother, Nabil Karam, 30, of Elizabeth St, Coburg, was  also arrested.

The brothers were charged with knowingly importing a commercial amount of hashish.

The preliminary hearing before Magistrate Raffaele Barberio begins in May 2002.

August 31, 2001 Bandido's biker freed

Bandido's motorcycle Club National Secretary, Robert Sloan successfully appealed to the states highest court after former drug squad detectives Stephen Paton and Malcolm Malcolm Rosenes were arrested.

Sloan was freed from jail when the Court of Appeals took the rare step of releasing a prisoner whose convictions for serious drug offences were based on the evidence of a drug squad officer recently charged of similar crimes.

The evidence of Paton and other arresting drug squad officers was seriously queried by the Court of Appeal.

September 5, 2001 Jason Moran freed

Jason Moran was released from Fulham prison.

In an unusual move, the Parole Board allowed him to leave Australia with his family because of fears for his life. 

He returned to Melbourne on November 20 to give evidence at the hearing into the shooting of Alphonse Gangitano due to start the following January.

September 6, 2001 Alleged Silk-Miller killer bailed to face Supreme Court

Jason Manuel Ghiller, accused of taking part in 66 armed robberies, was bailed to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

It was alleged that Ghiller played an active role in the hold-ups, mostly on restaurants, but his older accomplice was more aggressive of the pair.

Ghiller was also charged surrounding incidents which led to two  police officers being shot at in Hallam in 1994.

Many of the robberies occurred during the period in which the suspects of the Silk/ Miller shootings were apparently perpetrating similar crimes.

One of them was Bendali 'Michael' Debs, Ghiller's uncle.

Ghiller was bailed on strict conditions including a 10.30pm. curfew.

September 7, 2001 Tony Mokbel bailed

High profile businessman, Tony Mokbel, charged in late August with importing 550kg of amphetamines, was bailed by the Magistrates Court.

September 20, 2001 Massive ecstasy raids across Melbourne

23 homes across Melbourne were raided as part of the ongoing drug squad investigation into the manufacture of ecstasy.

15 people were charged with 78 drug manufacturing and trafficking offences. Search warrants were executed on the properties resulted in more than 6000 ecstasy tablets and 25kg of white powder, suspected of being either ecstasy or amphetamines being seized. A police spokesman said that $1,000 in cash and drug manufacturing equipment were also impounded.

Convicted bank robber, Andrew Hodson, 32, appeared in court accused of buying 1500 ecstasy tablets while on parole. Hodson was still serving a seven-year sentence for the armed hold-up of a Hawthorn bank when he alleged to have bought the ecstasy from an under cover policeman.

Sen-Det David Miechel told the Melbourne magistrates court that Hodson was arrested as part of the same operation that led to charges being laid against Tony Mokbel.

September 23, 2001 Kizon seen with Eagles footballers

Police observed west Australian crime figure John Kizon.

Kizon and West Coast Eagle's players Ben Cousins and Michael Gardiner, socialising together in Melbourne during Grand Final week the previous year. Cousins and Gardiner were in Melbourne to attend the Brownlow, which was held at the Crown complex.

The two were seen drinking with Kizon at Fidel's Cigar Bar later that night.

Police surveillance officers reported the three men were seen at Crown Casino at the same time and were "obviously friends".

September 24, 2001 Silk-Miller accused face committal hearing

The two men accused of the murders of police officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller and a string of armed robberies, faced a committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

The court heard of a plan the suspects had concocted to kill more officers to confuse investigators.

October 9, 2001 Former detectives give evidence in Fraser case while facing charges

Former drug squad detectives, Stephen Paton and Malcolm Rosenes appeared to give evidence in the drug trafficking case against Werner Roberts and former criminal lawyer Andrew Fraser.

Paton and Rosenes were on bail facing similar unrelated charges themselves. Werner Roberts had accused the officers had blackmailed him into the drug importation in a sting to have Fraser jailed.

October 24, 2001 Fraser plea suppression lifted

Judge Leo Hart lifted a suppression order on Andrew Fraser's guilty pleas to being knowingly concerned in the importation and also of trafficking cocaine and ecstasy.

October 25, 2001 Jockey Cassidy linked to drug baron through tapes

It was revealed that a top jockey was being investigated over alleged links to Tony Mockbel who was facing multi million dollar drug charges.

The jockey is believed to feature on secret police tapes recorded during Victoria's biggest drug investigation.

The following day, controversial jockey Jim Cassidy refused to say whether or not he knew Mockbel and that he wasn't sure if he was one of the men on the tapes.

November 13, 2001 Silk-Miller accused to stand trial

Bendali Debs and Jason Roberts were committed to stand trial for the Silk-Miller police murders. Debs was remanded to face court later in 2001 while Roberts was expected to seek bail.

November 13, 2001 Carl Williams refused bail

Carl Williams, arrested with his father, George in a November 1999 police raid on a home in Katandra Crescent, Broadmeadows, was refused bail by the Melbourne Magistrates court.

The raid netted police one of the states biggest amphetamine hauls. Retrieved were a pill press, about 30,000 tablets, a loaded pistol and 6.95kg of powders containing methylamphetamine, ketamine and pseudoephedrine. Police estimated the hall to have a street value of $20 million.

In late 1999, a man who was part of a father son amphetamine operation was shot in the stomach in Broadmeadows. It was claimed by detectives that the two owed the notorious Moran brothers, Jason and Mark, almost half a million dollars and that the thirty year-old son was shot. It is alleged screams of 'no Jason, no' were heard at the time.

November 15, 2001 $100,000 for Benvenuto murder info

Police offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to finding Frank Benvenuto's killer.

Police said that they believe a woman walking her dog in the area could possibly help them with their investigations.

November 17, 2001 Drug squad faces axe

Nick Papps, writing for the Sunday Herald-Sun, revealed that the drug squad was facing the axe after a decade of corruption allegations.

Police watchdog, Barry Perry said that he believed disbanding the squad may be needed to stamp out corruption. The findings of a review of the drug squad, led  by Perry was expected to be released within a few days.

November 20, 2001 Moran returns

Jason Moran returned to Melbourne after being allowed to leave the country when he was released from Fulham Prison the previous September, Moran saying he feared for his life. He had been jailed on assault charges arising from a night club brawl involving underworld associate, Alphonse Gangitano.

November 25, 2001 Missing drug squad pistol returned

The Sunday report also stated that a 9mm pistol taken from a drug squad safe had been returned with a different barrel and firing pin.

November 27, 2001 Mokbel brother arrested

Milad Mokbel was arrested in relation to the same crime for which his brother, alleged drug king-pin, Tony was awaiting charges.

December 17, 2001

Guilty plea to kidnap charge

Rocco Arico and Terrence Chimirri pleaded guilty to kidnapping for ransom.

The court heard that murdered gangster Dino Dibra was the architect of the daylight kidnapping on August 2, 1999 in Ardeer in which the victim was pistol-whipped, bashed and forced into the boot of a car.

December 20, 2001

Jail for kidnappers

Kidnappers Rocco Arico, Terrence Chimirri and Sajih Kocoglu were jailed for more than four years.

Chimirri appeared overjoyed at his prison term and celebrated loudly as he was led to the County Court cells.

Chimirri and his two co-accused high-fived each other as they left the court to begin their sentences.

Judge Graham Anderson said Dino Dibra wanted money he believed the victim owed him.

The judge said the others were led in the scheme by Dibra.

Judge Anderson jailed Arico, who was already serving time for an attempted murder charge, for four and a half years, increasing his minimum remaining term to more than seven years' jail.

Chimirri was ordered to serve a minimum of two years' jail.

Kocoglu was also jailed for four and a half years.

December 22, 2001 St Kilda cop shop guns still a mystery

The Herald Sun reported that despite a 19 month internal investigation into pistols, drugs and other items found at the St. Kilda police station in May 2000, the origin of the stash remained a mystery.

Other Timelines: 1900 - 1979    1980-1989    1990-1999    2002    2003    2004    2005    2006    2007

HOME      LINKS      TIMELINES      BOOKS      NAMELIST      EVENTS