Police hunt Comanchero bikie Tarek Zahed after his parole is revoked
Senior Comanchero bikie Tarek Zahed is in the sights of police after his bail was revoked and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
NSW
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One of Sydney’s top bikies who has strong links to exiled Comanchero boss Mark Buddle is now officially a wanted man after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Tarek Zahed, a senior member of the outlaw gang who has a penchant for designer clothing, has had his parole revoked after repeated successful bids at securing bail on various charges over the past six months.
But now it appears NSW Police can’t find the 40-year-old, issuing a statement last Friday asking for the public’s help to try and track him down.
When asked what steps police had done so far to find him, a NSW Police spokeswoman on Sunday told The Daily Telegraph: “These are all operational questions we are not able to assist with”.
Last year Zahed was sentenced for dealing with the property proceeds of crime and appealed before being released on parole in December.
While out on parole in January he was charged with affray over an incident at the high-end Italian eatery a’Mare in Sydney’s new Crown Casino complex in Barangaroo.
He was later granted bail over the affray charge, but Community Corrections decided to submit a breach report because he was on a court-appointed parole order at the time of the alleged brawl.
The State Parole Authority then issued a warrant for his arrest.
It comes after Zahed, of Homebush, has become a regular fixture in Sydney courtrooms in recent months.
In September last year he was jailed for 16 months for hiding more than $190,000 of dirty money in bank accounts under the names of young family members after police seized pink fluffy designer slippers and luxury handbags during a raid on his home.
Zahed lodged his appeal against the 16-month sentence and he was released on bail, but only a month later he was arrested in a Burwood pub when officers raided his new home and allegedly found cash, drugs and Comanchero-branded clothing.
He was charged with breaching his bail conditions and was remanded in custody.
After being released on parole in December he fronted Downing Centre Local Court last month and pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and swearing a false affidavit.
Zahed’s lawyer had incorrectly named the bikie’s workplace and Zahed’s failure to correct the lawyer meant the court was effectively misled, the court was told.
He was handed a good behaviour bond for those charges but, as he walked out of the courtroom, he was arrested yet again by police over the alleged assault at Crown.
He is due to appear in court in relation to that matter on March 3.
On Friday NSW Police issued the statement saying he was now wanted on an outstanding revocation of parole warrant.
The senior bikie is believed by police to be one of a handful of people who are still in touch with the Comanchero’s boss-in-exile Mark Buddle, who remains in hiding in Dubai.
Zahed’s links to and apparent communications with Buddle were revealed in a previous Supreme Court bail hearing, which was also told he laundered $59,000 through pokies at Bankstown’s Three Swallows Hotel.
A cheerful Zahed, wearing a Balenciaga t-shirt, leapt out at news cameramen outside court and laughed when he appeared at Downing Centre Local Court in January.
He thanked the media for their interest but produced an old photograph purporting to show him, at a previous hearing, wearing a gold Gucci shirt.
“It’s a Versace shirt,” he said, correcting the public record.
He also asked why his alleged connections to Buddle kept warranting a mention in reports.
Police said Zahed is known to frequent the Kings Cross, inner west and Homebush areas.
He is described as being of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern appearance, about 170cm tall, of a medium build with brown eyes and a shaved head.
Anyone who sees him is urged not to approach him but to instead call triple-0.
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