Police outside the house in Broad Avenue today (Sunday, February 15)(Image: Tom Mack/Leicester Mercury)
Police remain at the scene of a house they’re searching in connection with a murder investigation, while the accused are due to attend a crown court hearing on Monday.
Today (Sunday, February 15), two police officers were in a car outside the property in Broad Avenue, Evington, while the cordon, which has shut off the pavement outside about six homes, remains in place.
Police are investigating the 2024 disappearance of Gary Piatek, 60, who lived at the house. Two people have been charged with his murder, while six others have been charged with crimes including assisting an offender and possessing criminal property.
All eight are due to appear at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, where they will face a judge for the first time.
Throughout the week, various police investigation teams, including dog handlers, have been seen at the property carrying out searches and demolition work, along with gas engineers, who were also seen nearby today.
Neighbours in Broad Avenue have been shocked to read the developments after eight people were charged with various offences.
Faizal Patel, 45, who lives opposite, said: “It’s scary. I’ve only been here about three or four months, so I wasn’t here when he went missing or anything.
“But I heard about it all in the Leicester Mercury – all the arrests they made. I saw about what was heard in court and it’s all shocking.”
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s very strange to have all this going on in the street. It is shocking.
“I can’t really believe any of it is happening.”
A previous court appearance took place on Friday (February 13) at Leicester Magistrates’ Court, where the magistrates heard that the last day Mr Piatek was seen alive was April 18, 2024.
The hearing was told that Mr Piatek lived in a property in Broad Avenue, which he inherited from his parents.
The eight people charged with offences, who had been arrested at various addresses on Tuesday, are:
- Yosif Ibrahim, 43, of Broad Avenue, Leicester, and Omed Firuzman, 25, of Ashley Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, have been charged with murdering Mr Piatek in April 2024.
- Diar Muhammedy, 34, of Falmouth Road, Evington, Leicester, and Mabast Khalid, 21, of Manway Close, Birmingham, are charged with assisting an offender.
- Dilan Rabati, 34, and Ahmed Nabla, 34, both of Broad Avenue, Leicester, have already pleaded not guilty to acquiring, using or having possession of criminal property, namely a house in Broad Avenue belonging to Mr Piatek, between June 2024 and February 2026.
- Dalya Rabati, 29, of Frazer Nash Close, Isleworth, London, pleaded not guilty to the same charge, as well as fraud in January 2025 in which she is alleged to have created a false tenancy agreement for Mr Piatek’s house.
- Nazem Kakamando, 50, of Gordon Road, Birmingham, denied acquiring, using or having possession of criminal property, which the court heard was a sum of more than £140,000 in cash, and fraud.
Kakamando was granted conditional bail by the magistrates. The other seven were remanded into custody due to the seriousness of the charges.
All are due at Monday’s crown court hearing.
