

A man has been charged with allegedly creating a fake will scheme to inherit a $4.5 million home in Wollongong.
The charges follow a police investigation that began last January, when officers received a report of a break-in at an empty property in East Corrimal, belonging to a deceased owner.
According to police, 38-year-old Matthew Barnes fraudulently created a will using identification and financial documents stolen from the home of Marino Mikleus. These documents were then submitted as part of a fraudulent probate application.
Last September, officers raided another home in East Corrimal, where they reportedly found several documents, including the original will which was seized for forensic examination.
A second search warrant was executed at a property in East Corrimal on Wednesday morning.
Police Seize Firearms and Drugs in Fake Will Scheme
During the search, police seized two rifles, four gel blasters, ammunition, methamphetamine, cash, three motor vehicles, a jet ski, and a motorcycle.
Barnes was arrested at the property and charged with 27 offences.
The charges include making false documents to obtain property and financial advantage, possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition, dealing with proceeds of crime, supplying prohibited drugs, and participating in a criminal group.
He also faces charges of breaking and entering with intent to steal property valued under $60,000, stealing a motor vehicle, and possessing prohibited drugs.
Police allege the man’s fraudulent scheme involved four properties and two bank accounts, totalling an estimated $4.5 million in assets.
Barnes appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.
His lawyer informed the court that Barnes would not be applying for bail, but requested the case be listed for a later date. Barnes was subsequently denied bail and is scheduled to reappear in court on January 29, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.
Police investigations into the case are ongoing.