A "bungling bandit" walked into a gold shop wearing safety goggles, a surgical mask, pushing a trolley and toting a gun.
But this wasn't an ordinary hold-up. The gun wasn't even loaded.
Karl Kachami was instead staging a robbery with his mate who worked at the Melbourne Gold Company.
The duo stole about 28kg of gold worth more than $2.4 million, as well as $716,970 in cash, from the CBD business on April 27.
Kachami buried a tool box filled with gold bullion and jewellery on a vacant block next to his mother's property at a place called Dollar, in Victoria's Gippsland region.
Authorities still haven't recovered $333,240 of the stolen cash.
Kachami arrived at the gold shop as it opened for the day, clad in goggles, a mask, hi-vis safety vest and pushing a trolley.
He pulled out the unloaded gun and pretended to rob manager Daniel Ede, who gave Kachami signals and let himself be tied up for the CCTV.
At one point, prosecutors said Ede tried to draw his friend's attention to another safe they hadn't ransacked.
It contained $4 million in gold and $600,000 in cash, but Kachami didn't seem to take the hint.
Both men have pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and theft.
Kachami has also admitted possessing an unregistered gun.
His lawyer painted him as a "bungling bandit" and "total amateur" during a pre-sentence hearing in Victoria's County Court on Thursday.
Phil Dunn QC said Kachami agreed to the scheme after being pushed over the financial edge by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 48-year-old property developer's business ventures went downhill, he was ill with pneumonia and had borrowed $80,000 from Ede.
The staged robbery was the gold manager's idea as he complained about his boss, Mr Dunn said.
Kachami initially replied "don't be stupid" but ended up agreeing.
Melbourne Gold Company owner Michael Kulkulta said he'd known Ede for 15 years, and previously considered him more friend than employee.
"They did not just rob me of my gold and money, but they robbed me of my faith in mateship," Mr Kulkulta told the court in a statement.
Ede, 37, has applied to have his case dealt with in the Koori Court, which deals with Indigenous offenders.
He's back in court on November 18 while Kachami is due to be sentenced on November 23.
Australian Associated Press
