Drug dealer in Sydney woman’s hotel death case avoids conviction

A man who supplied cocaine to a Sydney investment banker’s wife who suddenly died has smiled as he left court upon dodging a conviction.

Ahmad Al-Zghoul (left) smiles alongside his lawyer, Ahmed Dib, outside court upon avoiding a conviction on Wednesday over supplying cocaine to a woman who suddenly died in a Sydney hotel room. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

A drug dealer who helped to supply cocaine to a Sydney investment banker’s wife who died when they later met in a CBD hotel room has smiled as he left court upon dodging a conviction.

Ahmad Al-Zghoul met the eastern suburbs woman last year in the room – in which they had sexual activity together – at Chinatown’s Meriton Suites before paramedics were called and found her dead with cocaine and GBL in her system.

Police alleged Al-Zghoul, represented by barrister Johnson Jiang and solicitor Ahmed Dib, had earlier on the day knowingly taken part in the supply of cocaine to the woman – a charge he pleaded guilty to in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.

However, he was never accused by police of being responsible for the woman’s death while they were in the hotel room.

The court heard Al-Zghoul had earlier been driving and picked up a drug dealer to buy cocaine ahead of a friend’s birthday party.

Al-Zghoul outside the Downing Centre with lawyer Asiya Chebbo during a break in his hearing. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

Al-Zghuol gives the finger as he enters court with Mr Dib. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

The dealer then told Al-Zghoul: “I need a ride” before the woman also entered his car to make her own purchase.

“The transaction occurred in the car and that’s how he offended,” Mr Jiang said.

It was later that night when Al-Zghoul was recorded on CCTV going to her hotel room.

Mr Jiang said Al-Zghoul had lost his building job after media reporting on his criminal proceedings and that he had to explain to a young family member what happened after it was spoken about at a school.

A Daily Telegraph story in March 2022 had revealed the woman’s suspicious death.

Mr Jiang also said Al-Zghuol was remorseful for what he had done in helping to facilitate the woman obtaining drugs in his car.

The Meriton Suites in Chinatown where the woman was found dead with a cocktail of drugs in her system.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund said she would take media reporting of the matter into account and said having to explain to his young relative what happened would help to stop him from reoffending.

“I suspect the conversation you had with the (child) does more specific deterrence than I could ever do,” Ms Freund said.

“I note there was publicity attached to this and I’ll take that on board.

“I do accept the submission made that this is at the low end of objective seriousness.”

She sentenced him to a 12-month conditional release order without a conviction.

Al-Zghoul, a married man from Panania, was silent when asked about the woman’s death outside court, but at one point he smiled and gave the finger when he was photographed.

The woman was married to a Sydney investment banker, who launched legal action against Nationwide News, publisher of the Telegraph, with the goal of keeping his and his late wife’s identities a secret.

A magistrate granted a non-publication order on their names.