A well-known Australian jeweler has been arrested by police on suspicion of organizing a robbery of his own shop in Sydney. He allegedly planned the robbery so he could demand millions in insurance money.
Police in the state of New South Wales say that Michel Elias Germani was seeking compensation of around 2.8 million Australian dollars. That is about 1.7 million euros.
The 65-year-old jeweler had stated that he and an employee were robbed in January by two men posing as customers. Once inside the store, they pulled out a knife and demanded access to the safe, Germani claimed.
Police arrested the robbers last month. But in the weeks that followed, she increasingly began to doubt Germani’s story, writes The Guardian. It is not clear why his statement was questioned.
Germani made jewelry for royals
According to the police, the other employee had nothing to do with Germani’s plans. She would not have known about the plans to defraud insurance companies and is traumatized by the robbery. “She was threatened with a knife and tied up with her hands and feet. She thought she was really being robbed.”
Germani is being held on suspicion of theft with aggravating circumstances, such as deprivation of liberty. He is also suspected of participating in a criminal organization and fraud.
His case became known in 1988 when he started sponsoring well-known Australian television game shows. Germani has also made jewelery for the Saudi royal family and Queen Noor of Jordan.
2023-05-09 09:05:34
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