Matthew Barnes is accused forging an elaborate fake will to get his hands on lavish $4.5million estate
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A man is behind bars and charged with dozens of crimes after allegedly creating a fake will and stealing documents to inherit his late neighbor’s $4.5 million estate.
Police attended the dead man’s empty home in East Corrimal, in Wollongong, south of Sydney, in January 2024 after reports of an alleged burglary.
Police allege Matthew Barnes, 38, fraudulently drafted a will using identification and financial documents stolen from Marino Mikleus’ home, 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 house in East Corrimal, where they reportedly found a number of documents – including an original will – which had been seized for forensic examination.
After extensive investigation, police executed a second search warrant at the same address on Wednesday morning, during which officers seized two guns, four gel blasters, ammunition, methylamphetamine, cash, three motor vehicles, a jet ski and a motorcycle.
Barnes was arrested at home and taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged with 27 offences.
A 38-year-old man was arrested in Wollongong and is now accused of forging a will to inherit a dead man’s home worth $4.5 million.
Police raided the man’s home in September 2024 and found the original will which will be used against him as evidence in court
Barnes was charged with creating false documents to obtain financial advantage and property and dishonestly obtaining said financial advantage and property through deception.
He was also charged with seven counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, nine counts of possession of an unauthorized firearm, possession of ammunition without a license and possession of more than three unregistered firearms without a license.
Other costs include supplying a prohibited drug in excess of the criminal offense and less than the commercial quantity, possessing a prohibited drug, participating in a criminal group, breaking into the deceased’s home and stealing a motor vehicle.
Police allege the alleged ruse involved four homes and two bank accounts, estimated at $4.5 million.
Court documents show the property belonged to Mr Mikleus and his mother Anna, who later died. The Daily Telegraph reported.
Barnes appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.
His lawyer told the court his client would not apply for bail but asked for the matter to be listed for later this month.
Barnes was refused bail and will appear in court again on January 29.
The police investigation continues.
During a raid on the man’s home, the police found several weapons and gel blasters
Meth, cash and other illegal items were also reportedly found in the home