The 1994 disappearance of then 22-year-old Revelle Balmain, shook Sydney, and indeed Australia.
Vanishing from the Kingsford area in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs; Balmain had worked as a model by day, and also as an escort while she forged her modelling career.
After her disappearance, Balmain’s belongings including a make-up bag, keys, and a shoe, were found strewn along Kingsford Street. A 1999 coronial inquest, held to determine what happened to Balmain, found that the young woman had been murdered.
Now, however, the case is under re-investigation, with searches occurring in Bellvue Hill, Bondi Beach and Potts Point, all in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs. It was during these searches that police got word of an alleged organised Serbian criminal syndicate, reports ABC.
A 63-year-old man connected to this syndicate, who was allegedly the boss of the escort service Balmain worked for at the time of her disappearance, has been arrested in relation to multiple offences. These offences included cultivating and supplying drugs, as well as stealing and selling luxury goods including designer handbags, clothing, shoes, watches and high-end alcohol.
On December 2, search warrants were executed, where police seized $400,000 worth of cannabis, and $150,000 worth of suspected stolen luxury goods.
New South Wales Police Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell has said: “In recanvassing the investigation, we were looking at a person of interest and the alleged offences were detected during that investigation.”
“[These alleged] offences are current offences, nothing linked with Revelle Balmain,” Detective Chief Inspector Bell said in a press conference.
“Five people are in custody, four of those have no connections with Revelle Balmain whatsoever.” These five men, all aged between 50 and 65 have been refused bail, and will face Central Coast court today, December 3, 2021.
“That person was in the initial coronial investigation and as part of the coroner’s matter we’re recanvassing all interviews and witness statements.”
“Everyone that was in the original investigation is still a person of interest in this matter, and we continue to conduct our investigation in trying to find answers for the victim’s family.”
When questioned regarding the results of this search, Detective Chief Inspector Bell said the forensic detective work was ongoing and the “results won’t be known for some time”.