Police believe the body of Raphael Joseph, who had faced charges over a gangland killing, could be buried at a property in Sydney’s northwest.
A large-scale police search will take place at the rural property on the outskirts of Sydney which may be the burial site of Mr Joseph – believed to have been murdered in 2014 after he claimed to have a $100,000 bounty on his head.
Raphael Joseph was 37-years-old when he was last seen in March 2014 getting into the back of a silver Holden Commodore at Auburn with at least two other men.
Raphael Joseph (pictured) was 37-years-old when he was last seen in March 2014 getting into the back of a silver Holden Commodore at Auburn with at least two other men
Police on Tuesday revealed they’ve recently found the car, which has a secret compartment in the dashboard believed to have been for drugs.
The homicide squad’s Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said the car, along with two others, will be forensically examined.
Police believe Mr Joseph trusted the occupants of the vehicle and got into it voluntarily before being driven to another location and killed.
On Tuesday a large contingent, including forensic officers, the bomb squad and the riot squad, will search a property at Blaxlands Ridge.
‘Officers are searching for items relevant to the investigation, and we believe Mr Joseph may have been buried on the property,’ Chief Insp Taylor said in a statement.
The homicide squad’s Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said the car (pictured), along with two others, will be forensically examined
Police on Tuesday revealed they’ve recently found the car, which has a secret compartment in the dashboard believed to have been for drugs
Six years before his disappearance, Mr Joseph (pictured) had been extradited from the United States over his suspected role in in the fatal shooting of Dimitri Debaz
Six years before his disappearance, Mr Joseph had been extradited from the United States over his suspected role in in the fatal shooting of Dimitri Debaz in the Sefton car park of the Playhouse Hotel in 2002, which sparked a wave of crime in the city’s southwest.
Mr Joseph was charged with murder but the case was later dropped.
Known as Huss or Hussany to his mates and family, Mr Joseph pleaded with US authorities to keep him in the country because an Australian crime family had placed a $100,000 bounty on his head.
Known as Huss or Hussany to his mates and family, Mr Joseph pleaded with US authorities to keep him in the country because an Australian crime family had placed a $100,000 bounty on his head
He also claimed members of Sydney’s Bronx Boys gang wanted to murder him and his lawyer previously filed documents in court alleging his friends and associates had been kidnapped and tortured.
Chief Insp Taylor said police were confident those associated with Mr Joseph know what happened to him.
‘While we are following strong lines of inquiry, I would encourage those people to come forward now, as it won’t be long before we come for you,’ he said.