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A man is behind bars charged with dozens of offences after he allegedly created a fake will and stole documents to inherit his dead neighbour’s $4.5million estate.
Police attended the deceased man’s empty East Corrimal home, in Wollongong, south of Sydney in January 2024 following reports of an alleged break-in.
Police allege Matthew Barnes, 38, fraudulently created a will using identification and financial documents stolen from the home of Marino Mikleus, which were then submitted to apply for probate.
Strike Force Sarina was established to investigate the alleged theft.
Eight months later, strike force officers executed a search warrant at a nearby home in East Corrimal where they allegedly located a number of documents – including an original will – which were seized for forensic examination.
Following extensive inquiries, police executed a second search warrant at the same address on Wednesday morning, where officers seized two rifles, four gel blasters, ammunition, methylamphetamines, cash, three motor vehicles, a jetski and a motorcycle.
Barnes was arrested at the home and taken to Wollongong Police Station, where he was charged with 27 offences.
Matthew Barnes (pictured being arrested) is accused of forging a will in order to inherit a dead neighbour’s $4.5million estate
Police raided the man’s home in September 2024 and allegedly found the original will. Pictured is Matthew Barnes being arrested on Wednesday
Barnes was charged with making false documents to obtain financial advantage and property and dishonestly obtaining said financial advantage and property by deception.
He was also charged with seven counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, nine counts of possession of an unauthorised firearm, possession of ammunition without holding a licence and possession of greater than three unregistered firearm without a license.
Other charges include supplying a prohibited drug more than indictable and less than commercial quantity, possessing a prohibited drug, participating in a criminal group, breaking into the deceased’s house and stealing a motor vehicle.
During a raid of the man’s home of Wednesday, police found several guns and gel blasters
Police allege the alleged ruse involved four homes and two bank accounts, which amounted to an estimated $4.5 million.
Court documents state the properties belonged to Mr Mikleus and his mother Anna, who later passed away, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Barnes appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.
His lawyer told the court his client would not be apply for bail, but asked for the case to be listed later in month.
Barnes was denied bail and will reappear in court on January 29.
Police investigations are continuing.
Meth, cash and other illegal items were also allegedly found at the property
