Former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid on his three years in jail
Freed former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid has taken a swipe at his former political colleagues labelling them as “fairweather friends” as he yesterday enjoyed a lavish party to celebrate his first day of freedom after three years in jail.
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Freed former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid has described his three years in jail with two simple words: “I survived.”
Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Telegraph hours after his release from Silverwater prison, the man who made – and broke – Labor premiers said it was a relief to be home.
“I can’t believe I went to jail,” Obeid said from his Hunters Hill mansion.
“I feel excellent. I’m in good health. Correctives Services were good to me. I respected them and they respected me, but I’m glad to be home.”
A Lebanese welcome drum played as his 34 grandchildren — a few born while he was incarcerated — joined about 150 family members hugging and shouting “jidou” (grandfather in Arabic) shortly after the slimmed down 76-year-old stepped out of the car that had escorted him from prison.
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He spent the day feasting on traditional Lebanese seafood cuisine samke harra – “they don’t serve a lot of fish in jail” – and drinking Blue Label scotch at a lavish homecoming party put on by his extended family.
Absent were any of his former political colleagues when he was an influential Carr government minister.
The former right-wing powerbroker served three of a maximum five-year sentence for misconduct in public office for failing to reveal his family’s financial interest in two Circular Quay cafes while lobbying a NSW bureaucrat over the plight of harbourside tenants.
Obeid wore a black R.M. Williams cap and carried a box of personal belongings when he yesterday finished his punishment for that offence and hugged his son Gerry and lawyer Michael Bowe upon his release.
It was a long three years for the Obeid family, who were accustomed to gathering every Sunday for lunch after church.
The shock of his imprisonment was quickly replaced by fear of how as an older Maronite Christian he would survive in jail filled alongside bikies, rapists and Lebanese Muslims.
However, Obeid found several unlikely allies, including a “double murderer” serving a 30-year sentence when he first went into Silverwater who “announced” to fellow inmates upon his arrival that he was to be “treated right”, a prison source said.
The incident led prison officers to dub Obeid “King of the Lebs”, noting how younger inmates appeared to be seeking his counsel.
He allegedly talked a young Irish inmate out of suiciding.
Obeid said he had “no issues” with any inmates while in prison, describing many as “ordinary people” with “terrible backgrounds”.
“I did a lot of listening and also advising them on how to do things,” Obeid told The Sunday Telegraph.
“A lot of them come from terrible backgrounds, and they have no chance once they get out.
“The system is underfunded. A lot of these people will go on an commit crimes again because they have got nothing. All they need is a job. It is an area I would like to become involved in.”
After being moved to a protection unit, Obeid found himself sharing cells with 16 paedophiles and rapists and the uncle of a high-profile NRL player, who would become a close friend.
“I missed my family,” he said.
“I missed my freedom – you have to follow rules – but it was bearable. But I didn’t miss politics. It is full of fairweather friends.”
As for how he felt about Labor’s loss at the March state election, Obeid said he “wasn’t surprised”.
“They missed an opportunity,” he said.
Federally, left-wing Labor leader Anthony Albanese made a good leader “so long as he doesn’t focus on class warfare”.
Family members – including his nine children – had been counting down the days to his arriving home to the former French consul’s residence that Obeid’s wife Judy bought in 1999, setting up a marquee in the generous grounds of the property the day before.
A family source said his first non-prison meal was a traditional spicy Lebanese fish dish with tahini.
Soon after he was jailed, Obeid told a family member that he would be fine: “These people will never break me – I am stronger than they are mentally.”
Mr Obeid yesterday credited his survival in jail to his mental toughness.
“I have never bowed to anyone that has put me down,” he said.
“I am a fighter. I am not going to let the system beat me.”
Restricted to four hours a day in a prison yard, Obeid used the time to exercise, shedding almost 20kg by walking about 16km every day.
The fitness regimen continued when he was transferred to Berrima minimum security — a jail known for its “white collar” inmates – where he worked out alongside convicted drug dealer Richard Buttrose.
While in Berrima, Obeid began writing his memoirs while working in the prison library.
Afer being transferred to the palm tree dotted grounds of Kirkconnell Correctional Centre, Obeid was asked to keep an eye on jailed magistrate Graeme Curran following his sentencing.
Obeid was transferred from Kirkconnell to Silverwater on Friday, against the family’s wishes, with Corrective Services NSW making the decision on safety grounds due to the expected media attention.
The homecoming comes ahead of a trial in the new year in relation to the awarding of a coal exploration license over the Obeid family farm.
Originally published as Former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid on his three years in jail