Police announce $1 million reward for information on Robert Issa murder
Issa was shot dead in a shopping centre car park in Craigieburn, in Melbourne's north, in October 2023, when men in balaclavas set upon him and an associate as they sat inside a white Mercedes-Benz station wagon during the day.
The men sprayed the vehicle with bullets, killing Issa and seriously injuring his associate in front of horrified shoppers, and fled the scene in a black Range Rover.
In a major breakthrough in the investigation, homicide detectives arrested and charged five men with Issa's murder after a series of early-morning raids on a combined six properties in Kew, Mickleham, Pascoe Vale and Fawkner last Thursday.
Investigators believe the men arrested and charged – Dion Perrone, 29, Muhammed Sayan, 31, Bechara Bayrouty, 33, Christian Behrndt, 26, and Fabio Perrone, 26 – are foot soldiers who were contracted to carry out the hit.
All five have been charged with murder, attempted murder and destroying property by fire. They were all remanded in custody and will next appear in court on December 4.
Authorities in Greece arrested a sixth man believed to be connected to Issa's murder at an airport in Athens on Thursday. The man was subject to an Interpol notice made on Australia's behalf.
The federal Attorney-General's Department confirmed an Australian citizen was arrested but did not provide any additional information on the allegations against him.
'As this matter is subject to proceedings in Greece, it is not appropriate to comment further,' the department said in a statement.
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