Adelaide chef Ibrahim Abbas in jail after pleading guilty to involvement in cannabis trafficking syndicate

A well-known Adelaide chef has been jailed for helping a yoga instructor and a man with an IVF debt traffic cannabis.

A well-known Adelaide chef has been imprisoned for his involvement in a cannabis trafficking syndicate in which he sold his excess drugs to a yoga instructor and to help someone pay off an IVF debt.

Ibrahim Abbas, 66, appeared in the District Court on Friday where he was jailed for his involvement in the syndicate – with his lawyer still asking for him to be released on bail.

Abbas, of Flagstaff Hill, previously pleaded guilty to trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and to possessing prescribed equipment.

The charges arise from his role in a $137,000 cannabis trafficking scheme that included charges against his old friend Darren Stephen Brown and another man, Adam Turner.

Judge Michael Burnett sentenced Abbas for at least nine months imprisonment after he said his lawyer had not outlined special circumstances to allow for him to suspend the sentence.

“Your counsel has submitted that I should find exceptional circumstances … and to refer to your age, your prior record, your personal circumstances including your remorse … your work history and good character and the fact you’re unlikely to reoffend,” he said.

Judge Burnett declined the application to suspend the sentence, saying selling the drugs for a profit heightened the seriousness of the offending.

Defence counsel for Abbas asked for clarification of Judge Burnett’s decision and whether his client could be released on bail, indicating they would appeal the sentence.

Ibrahim Abbas is seen outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court in May last year. NewsWire / David Mariuz

“I anticipate we may wish to appeal Your Honour’s penalty … but in the circumstances I ask that Your Honour release my client on bail so that the matter can be explored further,” he said.

Judge Burnett did not accept the submission and ordered Abbas still be remanded in custody.

Brown and Turner admitted they were caught in possession of 21.1kg of cannabis worth $136,584, as well as $7409 in cash last year.

Brown, a longtime friend of Abbas who offended to fund his struggling Gold Coast Bikram yoga studio, is serving a four-year prison term.

Turner, whose motive was to pay a “maxxed out” credit card debt incurred by funding IVF treatments for his wife, was jailed for 27 months.

A court previously heard Abbas, former head chef of Spices at the Stamford Plaza, played a limited role in the syndicate and sold only his “surplus” cannabis to his old friend.

“Brown and another man, Adam Turner, attended my client’s home and had two or three boxes or bags (of cannabis) with them … Brown wanted to access my client’s cryovac (sealing) machine and bags,” he said.

“My client had the machine from the days when he operated his restaurant … he permitted them to use it (to package cannabis), taking the view he had nothing to do with the cannabis they brought with them.

“He received $12,500 from them in exchange for 2.26kg of cannabis … Brown and Turner effectively helped themselves to the machine.”

Abbas was sentenced to two years, three months and 11 days imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine months.