Man shot as luxury $2500/hr cruiser sprayed with bullets at Rose Bay

THE man shot while onboard a luxury boat in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs last night is a Brothers For Life member who has beaten three murder charges.

THE man shot while onboard a luxury boat in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs last night is a Brothers For Life member who has beaten three murder charges.

Farhad Qaumi was on The Oscar II when it was sprayed with about 20 bullets as it docked at Rose Bay at 11.30pm.

The 31-year-old was grazed by a bullet and then went Lamrock Ave, Bondi, about 3km away, where emergency services were called.

Qaumi was charged with three murders, including one double murder of which he was found not guilty. A third was dropped before going to trial.

Last night's shooting is believed to be part of a power struggle inside the Middle Eastern crime gang.

News_Image_File: A man was found in Bondi with a gunshot wound. He was attended to by paramedics. Picture: Daniel Shaw

Brothers For Life are a Middle Eastern Crime gang based in southwest Sydney and founded by one of Australia's most dangerous criminals, convicted murderer, drug dealer and extortionist Bassam Hamzy. Hamzy is currently serving life in Goulbourn's maximum security prison.

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News_Image_File: Police scour the area for clues. Picture: Bill Hearne News_Image_File: Police forensics look at up to 20 bullet holes in the side off the Oscar ll at the Balmain water Police compound. Picture: John Grainger

The Oscar II Sydney can be hired for about $95,000 a week or $2500 an hour. It had two windows shattered when it was fired upon about 11.35pm.

The man was treated at Lamrock Ave, Bondi, for suspected wounds to his shoulder after reporting he had been shot at 12.35am.

He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and was released shortly afterwards.

Investigators spoke to a woman on Lamrock Ave, who assisted them with their inquiries while the man was in the hands of paramedics.

Rose Bay Detective Inspector Damian Henry said police set up a crime scene and discovered "more than 10" bullet casings on the wharf.

"The luxury cruiser has been seized by the marine area command and is being held in Balmain," he said.

News_Image_File: Police remove items from the cruiser Oscar II Sydney for forensic testing. Picture: Bill Hearne

Forensic officers started examining the 21 bullet holes riddling the middle of the luxury cruiser in a vertical line, piercing a porthole window, this morning at Marine Police headquarters in Birchgrove.

Witness Vanessa Lahoud was fishing at the wharf when she heard what she thought were fireworks.

She said: "It was pretty terrifying.

"You're just going fishing one night and then this happens. We thought it was fireworks but it turned out it wasn't. I didn't get scared until I saw the police."

The Oscar II is a 31.52 metre luxury cruiser owned by Oscars Hotel Group, which runs nine pubs across Sydney from the CBD to Campbelltown and Wollongong.

News_Image_File: Police locate bullet casings on the jetty where the cruiser was moored. Picture: Bill Hearne News_Image_File: Bullet casings are located by police. Picture: Bill Hearne

News_Image_File: A woman was questioned by police in relation to the man treated for gunshot wounds at Lamrock Ave in Bondi. Picture: Bill Hearne

The cruiser is rented out on behalf of the group by several charter companies but is also used privately, especially over the festive season, one charter business said.

"It's one of the most exclusive boats," they said.

The Oscar II, which can cater for 70 guests, has two 760 horsepower engines, can travel at up to 18 knots and holds 15,000 litres of fuel and 8000 litres of water.