Latest news with #Jimboomba
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Contract crew' wanted for questioning over torture, murder, kidnappings
A 'contract crew' is wanted for questioning after a six-day crime spree, including murder, torture and kidnappings, stretching the length of Australia. Police believe a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate may be linked to the three incidents that occurred within a six-day period mid last year. The first incident occurred about 5am on Sunday 21 July 2024 when a 23-year-old man wandered into a service station in Jimboomba, Queensland covered in dirt with a bullet wound through his head. 'Police believe the man was shot and buried, with those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later,' a police statement said. 'Although the man asked staff not to call emergency services, he collapsed shortly after, prompting them to seek help. 'The 23-year-old man was taken to hospital where it was established he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain.' Two days earlier in Canley Vale, Sydney police believe a 31-year old man was kidnapped and tortured and had part of his ear severed before being released later the same day. The incident wasn't reported to police; however, when detectives executed a search warrant on the property where the man was believed to have been held, they discovered the box cutter they believe was used to sever his ear. The third incident involved the discovery of the remains of 32-year-old Rich 'Dylan' Choup in bushland off Sydney's south. 'A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup had been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed,' the police statement continued. 'Mr Choup was last seen about 6.10pm on Thursday 25 July 2024 in Cabramatta, where he told friends he had a meeting and asked they wait nearby. 'About 6.25pm, CCTV captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade who appeared to reprimand and slap him.' Although Mr Choup was reported missing on Monday, July 29, 2024, it wasn't until about 4.40pm on Saturday, August 31, 2024, that officers attached to Sutherland Shire Police Area Command were called to bushland off Heathcote Rd at Lucas Heights after reports trail bike riders discovered human remains. The remains were later confirmed to be those of Mr Choup. As part of the ongoing investigations, police have released CCTV and images and are appealing to those who may have information to contact law enforcement. CCTV from a roadhouse in Nambucca Heads on the NSW Mid North Coast about 5.30am on Saturday, July 20, 2024 shows a white Hyundai Getz. Four male passengers are also captured on CCTV. One is believed to be the victim, who police suggest was picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland where his attempted murder took place. In relation to the kidnapping, vision shows an image of the boxcutter police allege was used to sever the man's ear, as well as CCTV of two vehicles travelling in convoy at the intersection of Freeman Ave and Sackville St in Canley Vale around the time of the incident. The vehicles are described as a dark-coloured Audi SQ2 and a white Volkswagen Golf. In relation to Mr Choup's murder, CCTV also captures Mr Choup and the man who slapped him walking towards a grey Audi SQ2. Police believe this may be the same vehicle used in the kidnapping in Canley Vale a week earlier. Detectives have also released CCTV of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3. The two males captured in the CCTV, seen allegedly moving the vehicles before and after Mr Choup's disappearance, are also of interest to police. Strike Force Hallet has been established to investigate the slew of incidents and anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
ABC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Bunnings accused of abusing market power
Sabra Lane: Bunnings is Australia's most trusted brand and it's being accused of abusing its market power. A Four Corners investigation into the hardware giant has heard fresh allegations of supplier mistreatment while a price survey has questioned just how cheap Bunnings is. Business reporter Emilia Terzon with this story. David Woodman: How are you today ma'am? Customer: I'm well, how are you today? David Woodman: I am very well thank you. What can I do to help you? Emilia Terzon : David Woodman's family has owned hardware stores for generations. This one on the outskirts of Brisbane is under threat. Katherine Mingin: Bunnings have bought the property next door and have advertised or put in the newspapers that they're going to build a 15,000 plus square metre box next door to us. Emilia Terzon : Bunnings says that its store will enhance competition in the Jimboomba region, but David Woodman thinks it will decimate his profits. Katherine Mingin: Being a small family business we can't sustain that so we'd probably end up shutting the store. Emilia Terzon : While Bunnings can legally set up next door to his Mitre 10, a Four Corners investigation has found that Bunnings is using clauses in its leases to block rivals setting up near its stores. Suppliers have also come forward with fresh allegations of being treated badly by the hardware giant. For eight years George Mingin and his wife Katherine supplied live worms to Bunnings, only to be dumped when they asked for a price increase. Katherine Mingin: We ended up putting a lot of hard work for absolutely no gain whatsoever. In fact we've lost everything that we put back into the business simply to supply Bunnings. Emilia Terzon : Professor Clinton Free from the University of Sydney questions whether Bunnings has simply become too big. Clinton Free : It's an enormous success financially but it also starts to raise big questions about market power. Emilia Terzon : Market research firm IbisWorld estimates that Bunnings' parent company Wesfarmers controls a third of the retail hardware market while one rival says the figure is double this. Bunnings disputes both estimates. Clinton Free : Bunnings has managed itself very skilfully through flying under the radar a little bit, having a very trusted brand. That has meant that it's not been subject to scrutiny in the same way that for example Coles and Woolworths have. Emilia Terzon : The competition watchdog has also had its eye on dodgy discounts. Four Corners has found there is a large caveat around Bunnings' famed price match guarantee. Bunnings advertisement: Citeco ladder, $159. Where you find a competitor's lower price on the same stocked item, we'll beat it by 10%. Emilia Terzon : But good luck finding that Citeco ladder anywhere else because it's a home brand. Bunnings now sells around 9,000 home brand products. Matt Steen from Consumer Advocacy Group Choice says that even some of the barbecues are Bunnings' home brand but as a shopper, you'd never know it. Matt Steen : There's nowhere on the packaging or on the products themselves that actually says it's a Bunnings only product. I think Bunnings should basically make it more transparent about how people can actually get that 10% guarantee, realistically get it, which is not including their home brand products. And so incorporation of some kind of labelling into their packaging and products would be really useful. Emilia Terzon : In a statement, the ACCC told Four Corners that home brands could be misleading or deceptive if they are marketed as though they are produced by a third party. Bunnings says it complies with all legal and regulatory requirements that apply to labelling and it applies its famed price match guarantee on like-for-like items. The company declined an interview with Four Corners. In a statement, it said it has a genuine commitment to value, service and fairness. Sabra Lane: Emilia Terzon reporting there and you can see the full Four Corners episode, 8.30pm tonight on ABC TV or anytime on ABC's iView.
