A mother, a drug addict, and a seasoned criminal have been imprisoned for their involvement in a significant robbery at a Melbourne hotel. Steven Cachia and Barbara Babic received sentences ranging from three to three-and-a-half years for their roles in the $321,000 theft from the Golden Fleece Hotel in October 2023.
CCTV footage captured the incident, which showed Babic, then serving as the gaming manager at the venue, being confronted by a masked thief, Andrew Cini, inside the strong room. Under duress and threatened with a Taser, Babic complied with Cini’s demands and surrendered over $320,000 that had been collected from the hotel’s gaming machines. She was handcuffed during the incident, but once Cini fled with the money, her restraints reportedly slipped off without difficulty.
Cachia, who has a history of crime, played a role in the planning by posing as an unsuspecting customer in the bistro, which allowed Cini to sneak in through an exit-only door. However, investigators noted that the money was conspicuously pre-arranged on a bench for Cini upon his arrival.
Despite presenting herself as a victim, Babic maintained a surprisingly composed demeanour throughout the robbery. Following the incident, police searched her residence and uncovered evidence of a shopping spree, which included a $3,447 purchase at Melton Furniture and Bedding and a $3,000 transaction for cosmetic dental work. She had also made cash payments for a large TV and deposited over $6,000 in the days thereafter.
Cini had previously been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail after admitting guilt for his participation in the robbery. Both Babic and Cachia have denied their involvement in the crime but were ultimately found guilty by a jury.