Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged four men – including the alleged coordinator of the kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian – bringing the total to eleven people.
Just after 5am on Friday 13 February 2026, officers from Ryde Police Area Command received a report that an 85-year-old man had been kidnapped from his home in North Ryde.
Local police attended before detectives attached to State Crime Command's Robbery & Serious Crime Squad began a coordinated response to recover the man under Strike Force Chabot.
Early inquiries established that Chris Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping and had been taken in a case of mistaken identity.
Mr Baghsarian's remains were located about 8am on Tuesday 24 February 2026 near a golf club in Pitt Town.
Seven people have been charged following subsequent investigation and remain before the courts.
Detectives today have confirmed the arrest of a 32-year-old man, alleged to have coordinated the kidnapping and murder of Mr Baghsarian.
On Tuesday 23 February 2026, Raptor Squad – with assistance from Northwest Metropolitan DV High Risk Offenders team – arrested a 32-year-old man in Blacktown for an unrelated investigation.
During a vehicle search, police seized methylamphetamine, and a pistol, both alleged to be in the man's possession. A short time later, a Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance check was carried out at a unit on Union Road, Penrith, where police seized cannabis and a vehicle.
The 32-year-old man was taken Blacktown Police station and charged with acquire firearm - subject to prohibition order, possess unregistered firearm-pistol, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, supply prohibited drug, and three counts of possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail and appeared at Blacktown Local Court on Wednesday 24 February 2026. That matter remains before the courts.
Over the course of the investigation, Strike Force Chabot detectives uncovered evidence that the 32-year-old man allegedly coordinated and participated in the kidnapping and murder of Chris Baghsarian, and he was arrested in Lithgow about 10.20am last Wednesday (8 July 2026).
The man was taken to Lithgow Police Station where he was charged with take/detain in company with intention to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, and murder.
The 32-year-old man was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court 4 the same day, where he was remanded in custody to appear at Penrith Local Court on Friday 17 July 2026.
In subsequent actions, about 9.15am last Thursday (9 July 2026), a 22-year-old man was arrested at Riverstone Police Station; he has been charged with take/detain in company with intention to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, and murder.
He was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court 6 on Friday 10 July 2026, where he was remanded in custody to appear at Penrith Local Court on Friday 17 July 2026.
As inquiries continued, shortly before 5am yesterday (Monday 13 July 2026) strike force detectives – with assistance of Public Order and Riot Squad – arrested a 21-year-old man in Lethbridge Park.
He was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where he was charged with accessory before the fact to take/detain in company with intention to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, accessory before the fact to murder, and possess prohibited drug.
The 21-year-old man was refused bail to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court yesterday (Monday 13 July 2026).
About 8.50am yesterday (Monday 13 July 2026) a 19-year-old man was arrested at Mt Druitt Police Station.
He was charged with accessory before the fact to take/detain in company with intention to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, and accessory before the fact to murder.
The 19-year-old man was remanded in custody to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court today (Tuesday 14 July 2026).
Strike Force Chabot inquiries continue to identify the alleged offshore offenders behind the murder and kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
