Man charged with Sydney CBD murder as cops flag more arrests

NSW police expect more people will be arrested after a man was charged over the alleged “execution” of gangland figure Bilal Hamze.

Police have issued an ominous warning after a man was charged with the alleged execution-style murder of gangland figure Bilal Hamze.

Hamze was shot down in what was described as a “hail of bullets” in Sydney’s CBD last year, and on Tuesday, 32-year-old Samuel John Rokomaqisa was charged.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said there were “a number of people” believed to be involved in the alleged murder of Hamze, who he described as a “well-known target”.

“Today is a breakthrough. We have a person in custody. Hopefully there’s more to come,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.

Hamze, the cousin of Brothers 4 Life gang leader and convicted murderer Bassam Hamze, was shot dead at 10:30pm on June 17 last year at the intersection of Bridge and Pitt Sts in what police described at the time as a “brutal, execution-style drive by” attack.

A man has been charged over the murder of Bilal Hamze, pictured, who was shot dead in Sydney’s CBD last year.

He was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital but later died.

A short time after the alleged murder, police found a burnt-out black Audi on Northwood’s Fleming St.

Hamze, 34, was leaving restaurant Kid Kyoto with a group of friends when he was shot several times.

At the time, detectives said they had warned him there was a bounty on his life.

Police allege Bilal Hamze was shot by a person in this black Audi, later found burnt-out in the Sydney suburb of Northwood. Picture: NSW Police

Detective Superintendent Doherty said police would allege Mr Rokomaqisa was in the black Audi from which the fatal shots were fired.

“Obviously, there’s more than one person involved in this offence,” he said.

Detective Superintendent Doherty said police would allege it was a “brazen … assassination in the streets of Sydney”.

Bilal Hamze’s alleged murder was seen as an escalation in ongoing tensions in Sydney’s underworld. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“This was at the prime time of night, the entertainment sector of Sydney. And a hail of bullets cut down Bilal Hamze, and he died,” he said.

“That would have been horrific to witness and … no one should stand for this.”

Detective Superintendent Doherty said police believed his alleged murder was part of a “well documented” organised crime conflict.

In October last year Hamze’s cousin, Mejid Hamze, was shot dead outside his house in Condell Park.

More to come.

Originally published as Man charged with Sydney CBD murder as cops flag more arrests