Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, arguing it does not condemn Hamas nor grant "Israel" the right to “self-defense.”
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.

Sydney jeweler accused of planning own shop's heist for insurance

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 9 May 2023 10:41
2 Min Read

Police say that Michel Elias Germani, the owner of Germani Jewellery, initially said that he and his staff member were threatened by two men disguised as customers in Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building.

  • x
  • A man walks a dog through the quiet city centre during a lockdown in Sydney, Australia in an undtaed photo (Reuters)
    A view of Sydney's Queen Victoria building lockdown in Australia in an undated photo. (Reuters)

A high-profile jeweler in Sydney, known for designing jewels for the late Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, and the royal family of Saudi Arabia, was charged and arrested on Monday for allegedly planning an armed heist of his own store.

65-year-old Michel Elias Germani, the owner of Germani Jewellery, initially told officers that he and his staff member were threatened by two men disguised as customers in Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building back in January.

One of the robbers allegedly threatened the employee with a knife, as the other demanded access to the safe, and according to police, the men ran out with a large amount of jewelry after Germani and the employee were restrained at the hands and feet with cable ties. 

Shanel Tofaeono, 37, and Mounir Helou, 57, were arrested last month as a result of an investigation but just this Monday, Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi told reporters that police believe something “just didn’t seem right” and Germani himself was detained after alleging that it was all a scam. 

Read next: How Cartier was inspired by Iran, India, Arabia & North Africa

Related News

Man rams Russian consulate gate in Sydney

Iran vows to reciprocate after Australia expels envoy

Germani was at the Downing Center local court when police claimed that he was involved in “planning and coordinating the robbery and attempted to defraud an insurance company”.

His charges included aggravated robbery and depriving a person of their liberty, attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage by deception, publishing false or misleading material to obtain property, and participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity.

Doueihi said the injured staff member was “absolutely traumatized” since she was not aware that this was staged. 

"She was threatened with violence and a knife [and] bound with cable ties on her feet and her hands … she was under the belief that it was a genuine robbery," he said.

Germani did not apply for bail and was given the order to reappear in court for bail review this Thursday.

Germani's brand rose to fame in 1988 after sponsoring the Australian TV game show Sale of the Century.

  • Sydney
  • Michel Elias Germani
  • jewelry
  • Australia
  • New South Wales

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

12 Israeli soldiers killed, wounded in Resistance operation in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 18 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS