Eight charged in murder inquiry into missing man

Eight people have been charged in connection with the disappearance of a man who has been missing for nearly two years.

Leicestershire Police launched a murder inquiry on Tuesday into missing man Gary Piatek, 60, who was last seen in April 2024, and started extensive searches of a house in Broad Avenue in Evington, Leicester.

Yosif Ibrahim, 43, of Broad Avenue, and Omed Firuzman, 25, of Ashley Road in Bournemouth, Dorset, have been charged with murder. Four other men and two women have been charged with other offences.

All eight appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Police launched a major search operation at a property in Broad Avenue, Evington, as part of inquiries into the disappearance of Piatek, including demolishing its extension.

The court heard the last day Mr Piatek is believed to have been alive was 18 April 2024 when he visited a pub.

The hearing was told Mr Piatek lived in a property in Broad Avenue which he inherited from his parents.

Ibrahim and Firuzman spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses before they were remanded in custody and told to appear at Leicester Crown Court on Monday.

Dilan Rabati, 34, and Ahmed Nabla, 34, both of Broad Avenue, Leicester, denied acquiring, using or having possession of criminal property, namely a house in Broad Avenue belonging to Mr Piatek, between 1 June 2024 and 10 February 2026.

Dalya Rabati, 29, of Frazer Nash Close, Isleworth, London, pleaded not guilty to the same charge, relating to the property in Broad Avenue and money belonging to Piatek, as well as fraud on 29 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, on 10 February 2026 and fraud, having allegedly made a false tenancy agreement on 29 January 2025.

Officers initially arrested 12 people on Tuesday.

Two men, 25 and 23, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, were released under investigation while inquiries continue.

A 23-year-old woman, who was also arrested on suspicion of murder, was released from custody on Wednesday with no further action to be taken, the force said.

A 61-year-old, from Leicester, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, has also been released on police bail while inquiries continue.

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