A gaming manager is one of three people being sentenced over the staged theft of $320K from the Golden Fleece in Melton, after police found instructions and a map in the defendant’s homes.
According to documents presented in Court, in the early hours of 12 October 2023 Andrew Cini gained entry to the Hotel in Melbourne’s west, armed with a taser.
He accosted 49-year-old gaming supervisor Barbara Babic, of Melton, and gained access to a ‘strong room’ before binding her hands with cable ties and escaping.
Babic said she was able to ‘slip off’ the ties, and raised the alarm.
But police quickly began to suspect the people involved were in fact known to each other.
The subsequent investigation unfurled a plan by Babic with acquaintances Steven Cachia and Cini to perpetrate the ruse robbery.
47-year-old Cini, from Melton West, was arrested in November. Searching his home police found a diary containing details on the hotel and the robbery.
Upon searching Cachia’s home in Strathtulloh detectives discovered both a map of the interior of the hotel and handwritten instructions on staging the heist.
It’s understood that prior to the incident Babic – in contravention of the policy of parent group Pegasus Leisure, a division of Melbourne Racing Club, which operates the Golden Fleece – withdrew a large amount of money and instructed a security officer to finish early for the night.
Cini, who was hiding in an alcove outside, received a call from Cachia, who helped him enter despite the pub being closed. Babic posed as the victim.
Avoiding his arrest, Cini reportedly dropped a bag containing approximately $25K, which was seized by investigators and represents all of the stolen money recovered.
He was charged with both armed robbery and aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, theft and dealing with proceeds of crime, as well as possess methylamphetamine.
56-year-old Cachia was also charged with armed robbery and aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, and theft, plus possess cocaine and drive whilst disqualified. He was held in remand.
Babic was similarly charged with aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, and theft, but also with make false report, possess cannabis, possess methylamphetamine and two counts of possess proceeds of crime. She was granted bail.
In July 2024 Cini was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of three years and eight months. It emerged in court that he expected to get $50K as a share of the money stolen.
In April of this year a jury found Babic and Cachia guilty of their charges relating to aggravated burglary and theft. Babic is said to have spent $10K on personal items and dental work.
The pair appeared again in the County Court this week for a plea hearing, which was deferred to a later date. They remain in custody.
A spokesperson for Pegasus responded that “As this matter is before the court, we will not be making any comment”.
