Retiree Allegedly Murdered, Family Moved into Home and Drained Savings
A man is accused of killing a 60-year-old retiree, moving his family into the victim's home, and draining his pension and savings.
A retiree was allegedly murdered by a man who then moved his family into the victim's home, took his life savings and pension, and renovated the property, Leicester Crown Court has heard.
Ibrahim Yosif, 44, is accused of killing Gary Piatek, 60, who disappeared on April 18, 2024, after going drinking in Leicester. The prosecution claims that within days of Piatek's disappearance, Yosif began renovating the house and completely transformed it for his own family.
Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC told the court that Yosif and his relatives allegedly drained Piatek's bank accounts and pension fund, confident that the victim would not be able to object. "That's because after the 18th of April of 2024, he was no longer alive," Sandhu stated.
Within weeks or months of Piatek's disappearance, Yosif, his wife Dilan Rabati, his sister-in-law Dalya Rabati, and Dalya Rabati's then-husband, Ahmed Nabla, allegedly moved into Piatek's home. The court heard that Yosif, Dalya Rabati, and another man, Nazem Kakamando, created a false tenancy agreement to suggest Yosif was renting the property from Piatek.
Ibrahim Yosif and Omed Firuzmand are accused of murdering Gary Piatek. Mabast Khalid and Diar Muhammedy are accused of assisting the alleged murderers by providing accommodation and washing items. Firuzmand, 25, is also charged with murder and preventing a lawful burial.
Yosif and Firuzmand deny murder and preventing a lawful burial. Khalid, 22, and Muhammedy, 35, deny assisting an offender.
Yosif, Dilan Rabati, 35, Dalya Rabati, 30, and Nabla, 34, deny seven counts of fraud, including allegations of taking money from Piatek's accounts at NatWest, TSB, his Legal and General pension, and credit cards from MBNA, NewDay, and Debenhams. Yosif, Dalya Rabati, and Kakamando, 51, deny charges related to creating a false tenancy agreement. Kakamando also denies a charge of possessing criminal property, namely £148,750 in cash.
All eight defendants were present in court for the prosecution's opening statement. The trial is expected to last eight weeks. Gary Piatek, 60, lived an "unassuming life" in the Evington area of Leicester, where he had resided for most of his life.