time. I couldn't move. >> You were tied up as well, sir. >> The guy comes with a gun and we sit down. >> Just so you know, the police are wearing body warn videos. >> The 19th of January, 2023, at around 6:30 p.m., a high-end jewelry store inside Sydney's Hilton Hotel became the scene of what appeared to be a violent robbery. CCTV footage captured two men, 59year-olds Munia Hoo and Andrea David Kasumano, entering the store, posing as customers. Moments later, they are seen tying up a female staff member and the store's owner, Michelle Jamani. Hey, hey, hey. [Music] The female worker was restrained in a chair using cable ties while Germani lay bound on the floor. The robbers proceeded to empty two safes and remove CCTV hard drives before fleeing. To protect her identity as a witness, and due to her classification by prosecutors as a genuine victim, we are unable to show the employees face or reveal her name. She is not accused of any wrongdoing. But what initially appeared to be a terrifying holdup soon unraveled into something far more deceptive. She's just very distress, distressed, conscious, and breathing. Can I please without touching anything? >> I've just touched that door >> because uh I got this. >> No need to expedite. >> I couldn't move. >> You were tied up as well, sir. >> Yeah. >> Are you ready? Michelle, >> can I ask where they tied you guys up? >> Me in my office and other office >> of this chair. I had to in separate. >> Yeah, I was in my office. So, and then she came in and then they pushed took her to the other to the other >> because they needed to they called took an appointment to come after hours. They said they stay in the hotel. Right. >> And did you take any of their details when they made the appointment? >> I have I have their names and phone number. >> You have their name and phone number? >> Are you okay? >> Yeah. Sure. But I was just saying I was clean. >> You okay, sir? >> Do you want to come in before we leave? >> Did you open the door? Can you open the door? Keep the door open. Who has the key? Who has the key? >> My keys also >> is your bag in this room here. >> In this room, >> right? Um cuz it's a crime scene. We just might um He took your shoes off. Okay, give me one second. Um, I'll just talk to my sergeant, okay? I'll ask him what he wants to do. When did um this all happen? They >> they were supposed to come at 4:00. They called and said they come at 4 6:30. So they came in around 6:30 >> and they came from this store. I we let them in. They came in as normal customers. Came in, took them to my office, showed them some necklaces because they said they looked at the necklace before in in the window. And as soon I showed them and then they said they want more stuff. So I asked, "Can you bring me the other necklace from the from the other safe?" As soon as she walks in, he straightway went over to her and the other guy comes with a gun and and then we sit down. >> What sort of gun can you describe the gun to? >> Yeah. One was like wearing big uh >> just you said a gun. >> Yeah. But he put it inside his uh jacket. >> Okay. So you didn't see the gun itself. It was just Okay. You probably he had one >> and then he pushed me on the floor and he tied tied me both hands and feet. It's very hard. I couldn't I couldn't. >> So he's touched you. He's touched your shirt and pants and anything. >> Yeah. Yeah. Because >> Do you remember if they had any gloves or anything on? >> He had the gloves after after when he pulled the gun to put his gloves on. >> And where did all this happen? >> Just here. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just >> Okay. >> On an estimate, how much worth of merchandise has been taken? I don't know. I haven't even seen anything. >> And then he took her into this room. Is that right? And this is the biggest safe. >> I haven't been. >> And this is about 4:30. >> No, 6:30. >> 6:30. All these cameras work. >> Okay. Okay. just take it so far. I can't believe it. >> And we had we had a tract last week said from the police from day. They said they they heard that we might we might get robbed. >> Who said that? >> Uh two police officers from Day Street. >> Oh, do you know their names? He gave me one is I think Kevin or I can't remember the names. >> Yeah. >> And he said what? He says they came and checked our security system and say everything is fine. We are doing everything. We have the alarm. We have the security and we assume it's going to be like middle of the night like it it happened to us 3 years ago. I don't know if you remember 3 years ago. >> I wasn't here unfortunately. >> We were robbed 3:00 in the morning. They came and smashed their way into So we thought it's going to be something like that. Not so brace and during the day. >> Yeah. >> And you didn't recognize either of the men? I just might grab your details just quickly. What was your first name? How do I spell? >> M I C H E L. >> Yep. Last name. >> And then Germany. G E R >> M A N I >> N I N. >> N I Y. >> Um your date of birth. Current address. What's your best contact number and email? All right. So, I know this is going to be hard, >> but could you describe the man for me that >> was dealing with you? one. I mean, black hair. Uh, >> how tall is he roughly? >> Uh, probably 6 foot. >> 6 foot. >> Bit bulky. Very heavy. Heavy. >> Like muscly or >> like really big guy? Yeah. >> Really big guy. And >> I couldn't tell the nationality, but he was dark skin and >> like olive or >> brown skin. >> And he had a mask on, so I couldn't see. >> What color was the mask? >> Maybe white or blue. I can't really collect. >> What color? >> White or blue? I think >> What was he wearing? He was wearing just a normal clothes but with a big jacket over it like a over coat but light light >> black color >> black black >> black outside. >> Was he wearing gloves when he came in? No, of course. I wouldn't have to. >> Did you see him touch anything >> before he put the gloves on? >> Maybe my desk. And Was there any like anything distinctive about him like tattoos or >> Couldn't see any tattoos. And where did you write down the booking? >> On my phone. >> On your phone. >> You call it twice or three times and message three times. Supposed to come at 4:00. >> Who has access to the CCTV? Yeah. Yeah. >> You you you have it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. What we'll do is we'll wait for the uh inspected to come in the detectives and then we'll um try and access it and look. Um >> so you haven't looked in the safe or anything yet? >> Okay. Okay. We'll just leave that is as it is at the moment. Um if everything was taken from that safe in there, how much would that be worth? >> I don't know because we have just been moving stuff between one shop to another. We need to have proper rental. Okay. >> It's a lot. >> It's a lot. Are you able to give like a price range just so I can let the boss know? >> You know, last time we got robbed, I said 800,000. We uh >> No, I said half a million. You sure 150? They took 800,000. So, we can really never know unless we >> Okay. Did they touch you? >> Yeah. He just pushed me on the ground and just don't touch anything else or >> and then Yeah. Big man got a rough value. >> He's he's not sure yet. Um he can't give us an estimate. >> Just a ballpark. Over a million. Under a million. >> Over a million. Over two. >> Just ballpark. >> Depending how much they took from the safe. You're not sure? >> I haven't check I haven't seen the safe yet because we had few expensive pieces. We removing stock from >> They taken anything you can see. So can you put a a value on it now or >> it's all from the safe? or already what I what they I what I got to show them is like already five 600,000 already. So last going up towards me and you know they went into the safe so they wouldn't have just >> they went to both safes actually my safe and >> they have a bag. Yes. Have a normalask. Didn't they have mask on? >> Mask >> not faces cover. >> Yes, they came in with mask. I mean just a normal uh you know co mask. >> They have gloves on. >> No, not when they came in. After they came in and put them on put on and put the gun on me but behind his jacket. >> Did you see the gun or just behind his jacket? You could tell it was a shape of gun. Yeah. Put it on me. >> No other weapons? >> I didn't see. No. Uh, my my assistant said he had a stick on her. Could be like a knife or something. >> Something sort of you two in here. >> No, no. We have just strapped me very very tight like the security guy came in and untied untied me. >> Is that usual just to have two employees? >> You and one of one of us. >> And the CTV is working fine here. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> They came and checked it last few days ago because we had to uh detect it from day center. They said >> they heard we might we might get dropped. We never assumed we're going to be leaving the day. We thought it'd be >> They're on their way. So, they'll talk to you soon. All right. Just in the interim, just don't try not to touch any anyone. How would you describe the second man? >> I know you didn't spend as much time with him, but >> yeah, I would say Maui, maybe. >> Maui. >> How tall was he? >> 6' something. 6 6'2, I think. >> Heavy heavy set. >> Heavy set. What was he wearing? >> That's all right. >> Dark clothing. >> Did he have any tattoos or anything? >> And he was also wearing a mask. Light colored mask. >> And do you know which of the men you were speaking to on the phone? The first guy, >> do you remember his name? >> He said Aldo. Aldo. I have it on my phone. Aldo or something to my name. Your Italian name. Aldo. Right. And do you know where your phone is? >> Yeah. On my desk. >> All right. >> Well, the detectives will probably just want to look at it. I just don't want to touch anything yet. Just so you know, um, all the police are wearing body warn videos, okay? Just so everything's being captured. Okay. >> So, would you normally stay open this late? >> No, we usually close at 5:00 and we closed and went for dinner, but the customer was looking at something expensive in the window and said they're coming at 4:00 and we're staying in the hotel. >> Yeah. >> And so they said, "I can't make it at 4:00. Can we wait till till 600 6:30?" We said, "Okay." >> Yeah. And you Do you remember the necklace that they were looking at? >> Yeah, it was what they call tennis. Tennis bracelet. >> Tennis necklace. >> Um, what were the carrots of the diamonds on it? Do you know? >> Like like 30 points each and total roughly. It was like retail value of 110,000 but I was going to sell it at 50 or 60,000. >> We need the sale. Genu has been so polite. >> So anyway, that's the reason we said okay we >> we open for after hours and make a sale. >> And what other items were they interested in? >> And the bracelet. Matching bracelet. >> Matching bracelet. >> And I had the bracelet in the other safe. So I don't get these other. >> And how much was that bracelet worth? >> This will be like 30,000 >> at retail value. You've got everything set with alarms and >> yeah, everything >> security and >> and we we had it checked last week to make sure everything working especially and I was trying to organize some security guard to come and be on the premises. >> Yeah. Right. you know that's because of the threat we're still waiting for the insurance to approve him and because he sent his credentials and everything the insurance and waiting for them to approve him because he his license expired was but doesn't have license anymore but we said but he's still >> he's actually working as police academy in and he's like waverly council working for 20 years so someone used to work for me as a security guard long time ago so we told the insurance someone we know what at least you know I can trust you? >> Yeah. >> They hesitated and look what happened. >> So do you only leave some stock out and then you put all of the really expensive stuff? >> Normally we don't we we used to leave more things out but uh because what the tread the insurance said no take more things in the safe don't leave too don't leave too much. We were insured for 150,000 outside business hours. Y >> but lately because of the track we had so that is going to take mostly >> okay >> I think um so we've asked for ambulance to attend So would you like ambulance to see you as well? So my my colleague just took her to the bathroom and then we're waiting for an ambulance at the moment I think. Do you have any duress alarms in here? >> There's one in my drawer. One was was wearing it. >> I think they >> took it off her. >> I think they took That's how they get out. They took the key from because you can't get out unless you you press the button to to get yourself out. >> Yeah. >> And that button has been playing up. So not doesn't work too efficiently. So you have to keep pressing Yeah, she's just out there. >> This glass of water. Is that >> okay? Just wondering. Please stand. >> How long have you owned this shop for? This premise is uh 7 years but >> been the jewelry since 85. >> Yeah. Well, >> way before you were born. >> Mhm. >> You wouldn't remember us. German jewelry of sale of the century. We don't remember. >> Don't remember. >> Used to advertise on TV7 80s and '9s like a program called sale of the century bus and you win a prize and we used to go to the jewelry. >> Oh wow. For >> 15 years we were like channel 9 7:30 p.m. >> Yeah. Good old days. >> Yeah, >> it's the good old days. >> We thought we were safe here cuz the Hilton are there, you know. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> When when we got broken in last time, couldn't believe it. 3:00 in the morning, they came in with sledgehammers and smashed. We didn't see it on the news. >> No. >> They came in through the front door, smashed the whole door and smashed the whole shop. Empty whatever what was outside. 3 minutes I left. same security guard was here. He came in to stop them. He went straight back. They had big guns with them. >> Yeah. >> So he called the police. Three minutes later, that's all it took. 3 minutes to do something. >> That's 3 years ago. But we never had any incident here. We've been here 7 years. >> Cuz in the total store, how much do you think all of the jewelry is worth? We vary a lot with over a million because we get legit jewelry coming in and out from different suppliers of cons to show customers in and out. >> Yeah. >> So changes. Yeah. >> Plus we opened a shop last year in QVB. >> Oh yeah. >> Just across the road and we move stock from one place to another. So my staff sometimes they need something they move it across and bring back and stuff. >> Yeah. So we really need to check what is stock levels and then we work it out. >> And has anything ever happened in the other premises? >> I mean in tropic centers hopefully you think it's be safe. So >> y >> lucky we didn't have but here it's on the street but the street is like light rail and there's no thing we're safe because there's no no like ram rate possibility because I had my shop many years ago where Cartier is or was on castle street got ram raided twice >> middle of the night >> right like total >> I had to close down because I couldn't I could we were not covered for rent. Yeah. >> So twice we were robbed. We never got >> don't have insurance and insurance refused to insure unless we have the bulards in front of the building. So because of that I had to close the shop. >> Yeah. >> Took it right. >> So we've been doing this for a long time. >> Yeah. You lose time. I don't know. I don't know what time they do depend on the time. They came at 6:30. So I don't know what time actually police came in. >> Yeah. 7:00. >> 7 is it? So half an hour. >> And had they just left when we came? >> Just left. >> Oh, I don't really That's all right. 5 minutes or something. >> Yeah. How long's worked for you? >> Five, six years. Yeah. >> Since we've been here since >> But she's not very rich. >> That's awful. >> Tell you when she's So, what's probably going to happen is that the detectives are going to want to come and speak with you and then they're going to want a detailed statement from you. I'm I'm not going to do it just because I want >> Yeah. It's a serious um crime. So they'll want certain information. Um >> if we come out now, >> we come out. >> Can I take my shorts or not? >> Just No, leave everything as is. Just come out. >> Yeah, just leave everything as is at the moment. Just try not to try not to touch it because you're bad. >> Prosecutors alleged the robbery was a sham staged from the inside by Germani himself in an effort to claw back funds through a $2.8 million insurance claim. At the time, Germany owed more than $184,000 in unpaid rent to the Hilton Hotel. According to the crown, Germani orchestrated the plan with the help of Hoo and Kosumano. Germani and Hoo have admitted to staging the heist and lodging a false insurance claim. Germani also pleaded guilty to lying to police. However, both men deny more serious charges of aggravated robbery and detaining the employee without consent. The prosecution argues that the woman was used to sell the illusion of a real robbery and that she was subjected to actual violence during the staged incident. Jamani and Hoo claim she was a willing participant, something prosecutors firmly reject. This was not Jamani's first attempt. 10 days earlier, he approached an acquaintance, offering up to $25,000 to stage a robbery. That person reported the proposal to police. On the 13th of January, officers visited the Hilton store, warning Jamani that someone was allegedly planning an insurance job at the premises. Despite this, the plan continued after a two-month trial. The jury was ultimately unable to reach a verdict for Jamani and Hoo on the most serious charges and was discharged. Police, open the door. Police search warrant. Open the door. >> Open the door. Hurry up. >> Open the door. >> Police. Open the door. >> Open the door. >> Come here. Come here. Come here. Jamani remains in custody awaiting a retrial. Kosumano is on bail and will return to court in September for sentencing. Thanks for watching. For exclusive content and early access to public interest stories, consider supporting Police Vision Australia on Patreon. [Music] [Music]