The REAL target behind strike force raid of multimillionaire couple's luxury mansion revealed
The real target of a dramatic raid carried out by organised crime detectives at the $27million mansion of a glamorous Sydney couple has been revealed.
Heavily armed officers from NSW Police's anti-gang taskforce executed a no-knock warrant on the Bellevue Hill home in Sydney's east on February 6.
The property is owned by former A Current Affair bureau chief Stephanie Jandegian and her entrepreneur husband Garrett.
The raid, which quickly became the talk of the city's eastern suburbs social set, was reported at the time to have been carried out due to the couple's affiliation with others believed to be the detective's primary targets.
On Tuesday, The Australian's Margin Call column revealed that raid was conducted to gather intel on on Brighton Le Sands entrepreneur Marios Alexandridis.
Alexandridis first made headlines in 2015 when he was jailed for two years after he stormed into his ex-wife's Double Bay apartment with a gun.
He was back in the headlines a decade ago when his home was shot up during a night of gang violence in Sydney's south-west.
The February 6 raid on the Jandegians' mansion was carried out as part of Strike Force Candice, a multi-agency investigation into unexplained wealth and money laundering Strike Force Candice.
It's not yet clear what detectives were hoping to find, however it's since been revealed that it was one of several warrants executed over the course of the day.
As detectives raided the Jandegians' Bellevue Hill home, officers executed separate warrants in Elizabeth Bay, Woollahra, Dolans Bay and Mosman.
Police allegedly seized multiple mobile phones, almost one kilogram of cocaine, about half a kilogram of silver bullion and more than $1million in luxury goods.
Police also executed a targeted vehicle stop against Stephanie's father, construction industry figure Serge Golman, 59, The Australian reported.
His mobile phone was seized along with that of a second man travelling with him at the time.
Alexandridis is understood to have been the only person arrested during the February raids. He faced Manly Local Court where he was granted bail.
He is scheduled to reappear in court next Tuesday on one count of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime with intent to conceal.
No arrests or charges have been laid against the Jandegians.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that either Stephanie or Garrett Jandegian committed any wrongdoing.
The couple are well-known in Sydney's eastern suburbs for the lavish birthday and milestone parties they throw for their two children.
Mr Jandegian, originally from San Francisco, founded the drink company Aqualove, an alkaline water product, in 2017.
He left Aqualove three years ago after selling his stake in the company but continues to serve as a director of antigen test and personal protective equipment supplied Pharma Sol.
Ms Jandegian (nee Golman) competed as a former contestant on Network Ten's reality show So You Think You Can Dance in 2008 and went on to serve as a broadcast journalist at Channel Nine.
She worked as the Sydney bureau chief for Nine's A Current Affair program alongside her award-winning producer sister Lauren Golman.
The couple's lavish lifestyle has attracted widespread media attention in recent years, spurred on by a string of top-shelf property acquisitions.
The Jandegians purchased their two storey Bellevue Hill mansion in 2022 after it went on offer at an eye-watering $27million in what was widely acknowledged as that year's biggest acquisition in Sydney's most expensive postcode.
The country-style mansion with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a pool and tennis court was formerly owned by ex-ASX chief Dominic Stevens.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Bargain Hunt expert jailed for offences under Terrorism Act
A BBC Bargain Hunt art expert who failed to report a series of high-value art sales to a man suspected of financing the militant group Hezbollah has been jailed for two and a half years. Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, sold artworks worth a total of about £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for the Lebanese organisation, a court hearing was told last month. Ojiri, of Brent, north London, previously pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21a of the Terrorism Act 2000. He is believed to be the first person to be charged with the specific offence. The art dealer, who has also appeared on the BBC's Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector on or before dates between October 2020 and December 2021. US prosecutors say Ahmad was a 'major Hezbollah financial donor' who used high-value art and diamonds to launder money and fund the group. Ahmad is accused of evading terrorism sanctions by using front companies to acquire more than $160m (£120m) in artwork and diamond services. After the introduction of new money-laundering regulations in January 2020 that brought the art market under HMRC supervision, Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules. The court previously heard the total value of the artworks sold was about £140,000. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sentenced Ojiri to two years and six months in prison at the Old Bailey on Friday, with a further year to be spent on licence.
The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
BBC Bargain Hunt expert jailed over art sales to ‘Hezbollah financier'
A BBC Bargain Hunt art expert who failed to report a series of high-value art sales to a man suspected of financing militant group Hezbollah has been jailed for two-and-a-half years. Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, sold artwork worth around £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for the Lebanese organisation. Ojiri, of Brent, north London, previously pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. He is believed to be the first person to be charged with the specific offence. The art dealer, who has also appeared on the BBC's Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector on or before dates between October 2020 and December 2021. US prosecutors say Mr Ahmad was a 'major Hezbollah financial donor' who used high-value art and diamonds to launder money and fund the group. He is accused of evading terrorism sanctions by using front companies to acquire more than 160 million dollars (£120 million) in artwork and diamond services. Following the introduction of new money laundering regulations in January 2020 that brought the art market under HMRC supervision, Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules. The court previously heard the total value of the artwork sold was around £140,000. The defendant was, at the relevant time, the owner and operator of Ramp Gallery – latterly Ojiri Gallery, Lyndon Harris, prosecuting, said. Mr Ahmad is understood to be based in Beirut, the court heard. Mr Harris said: 'The defendant engaged in discussions with and sales over a 14-month period with Nazem Ahmad and his associates, selling art to the value of £140,000 over that period.' The defendant knew Mr Ahmad had been sanctioned in the US, a previous hearing was told. Ahmad's phone number was saved on Ojiri's phone as 'Moss', the court heard. '[It] appears to have been a name deliberately chosen to disguise Mr Ahmad as being one of his contacts,' the prosecutor said. He added that Ojiri was warned by others about his conduct 'but proceeded to engage in dealings with Ahmad in any event'. Gavin Irwin, defending, said Ojiri was arrested while filming a BBC TV programme. He said: 'He has lost the work he loves. He was arrested while filming a BBC television programme. 'He has already lost, of course, his good name, he was until recently a man of good character.' He said the defendant had been 'naive' in relation to his participation in Ahmad's art market, but that he was 'preyed on by more sophisticated others'. Mr Irwin also said the defendant has lost his business, accepted that he had done wrong and wanted to 'apologise for undermining trust in the industry' and also to 'apologise for the distress that he has caused principally to those who know him, who love him, but also those who have supported him throughout his career'. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sentenced Ojiri to two years and six months in prison at the Old Bailey on Friday, with a further year to be spent on licence. She told Ojiri he had been involved in a commercial relationship 'for prestige and profit', and that he had been 'seeking the kudos of dealing with an eminent name in the dealing world'. She added: 'You knew about Ahmad's suspected involvement in financing terrorism and the way the art market can be exploited by someone like him.' Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said that until these events he was 'someone to be admired' and added 'this is the nadir – there is one direction your life can go and I am confident that you will not be in front of the courts again.' The judge said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'The prosecution, using specific Terrorism Act legislation is the first of its kind, and should act as a warning to all art dealers that we can, and will, prosecute those who knowingly do business with people identified as funders of terrorist groups. 'Oghenochuko Ojiri wilfully obscured the fact he knew he was selling artwork to Nazem Ahmad, someone who has been sanctioned by the UK and US Treasury and described as a funder of the proscribed terrorist group Hizballah. 'Financial investigation is a crucial part of the counter terrorism effort. A team of specialist investigators, analysts and researchers in the NTFIU work all year round to prevent money from reaching the hands of terrorists or being used to fund terrorist attacks.' Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'It is clear that Oghenochuko Ojiri was aware of new money laundering regulations in the art world and that he had knowledge of Nazem Ahmad's background. 'Ojiri engaged in activity designed to conceal the identity of the true purchaser by changing the details on invoices and storing Mr Ahmad's name under a different alias in his mobile phone. 'His motivation appears to be financial along with a broader desire to boost his gallery's reputation within the art market by dealing with such a well-known collector.' Ojiri has appeared on a number of BBC shows including Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip. He described himself as 'absolutely obsessed' with collecting contemporary art in a BBC Q&A. He has previously worked as an auctioneer and is known for championing African and European contemporary art. Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political and militant group based in Lebanon, backed by Iran and known for its armed resistance against Israel. In the UK, the entire organisation – both its military and political wings – has been banned as a terrorist group since 2019.
Telegraph
35 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Spain could block Gibraltar's removal from EU money laundering list
Spanish conservatives are seeking to stop Gibraltar being removed from an EU list of jurisdictions with lax money laundering and terror financing controls. The centre-Right People's Party (PP) believes keeping the British Overseas Territory on the list is vital to maintaining pressure in negotiations over its future. The populist Vox party will also join an attempt to block Gibraltar's removal because of the party's long-standing support for Spain's sovereignty claim over the Rock, which was ceded by the Spanish king to Britain in 1713. A Vox source told The Telegraph: 'We will, of course, maintain the same position we have consistently held on Gibraltar in every vote. In our view, Gibraltar is a territory unlawfully colonised by the United Kingdom and does not meet the necessary conditions. 'Therefore, we firmly reject any proposal to remove it from the list of territories concerning capital movements.' Inclusion on the EU's 'grey list' comes as a reputational blow and introduces red tape that makes it less appealing to do business with. Gibraltar is on the list with countries including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Iran, North Korea and Yemen. The European Commission has proposed removing the Rock, but requires a majority vote in the European Parliament to confirm the decision. Eurocrats failed in a previous attempt to tweak the list, with conservative and socialist politicians forming an unlikely alliance to quash the move. Earlier this year, Right-wing MEPs voted against the changes because of Gibraltar's proposed removal, while their Left-wing counterparts opposed it because of a recommendation to remove the United Arab Emirates. The People's Party urged the Spanish government to intervene to prevent Gibraltar being removed from the EU list in January. It said that the Rock 'continues to be a territory that is too lax with respect to its commitments to combat money laundering and terrorist financing'. The PP also argued that under no circumstances should Gibraltar be removed before a deal was struck between Brussels and the UK on the post-Brexit relationship with the Rock. Its politicians are the second-largest national delegation in the centre-Right European People's Party (EPP) and hold powerful influence over the direction of its voting strategies. 'Sufficiently comprehensive' efforts Commission officials believe that the Spanish opposition could be overcome with a recommendation to add Russia to the list of countries. They have previously said Gibraltar's efforts to counter illicit finance and money laundering are 'sufficiently comprehensive' in order to be removed from the list. The Rock was originally included on the grey list because of concerns over regulations for its gambling industry. It was added in 2023, as negotiations between the UK, Spain and the EU were carried out over the territory's post-Brexit future. The talks have repeatedly stalled over sensitive sovereignty issues, including Madrid's wish for Spanish border police to operate security checks at Gibraltar's airport and seaport. There is strong support for Ukraine among the EU parliament's EPP, and vetoing the changes to the list because of the British overseas territory could become controversial amongst its politicians from other states. 'There is huge support for putting Russia on the list,' Markus Ferber, of the EPP, told the Financial Times. The commission's final list of recommendations is expected to be published next week, after a planned announcement was put on hold at the last minute this week. Moscow was originally listed in 2000 but taken off two years later after fulfilling a number of criteria set to reassure the EU.
