Fadi Ibrahim prevented from attending court hearing in battle against former brothel madam

BEING “indisposed in a very public way” has prevented Fadi Ibrahim from attending a hearing in his legal battle against Eddie Heyson’s former fiancee and one-time brothel madam Jamelie Lahood today.

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AS Fadi Ibrahim languishes in a Dubai prison cell awaiting an extradition hearing, his legal battle against former brothel madame Jamelie Lahood over a multi-million dollar waterfront mansion rolls on.

Today registrar Leonie Walton heard that the Kings Cross identity was unable to attend the NSW Supreme Court because he is “indisposed in a very public way”, said his solicitor Michael Barrett.

Along with his brother Michael, his niece Daniel and a number of other associates, Ibrahim was arrested earlier this month as part of a massive global operation to shut down an alleged drug syndicate with links in Dubai, the Netherlands and Sydney.

Ibrahim, who narrowly survived a shooting in 2011, has launched legal action against what he claims is an undervalued sale of Lahood’s Yowie Bay property.

Ibrahim is suing Lahood - who was at one time engaged to marry Eddie Heyson - for agreeing to sell her waterfront Yowie Bay mansion, purchased in 2012 for $3 million, for $200,000 less than the purchase price.

Jamelie Lahood

Fadi Ibrahim. Picture Stephen Cooper

John Ibrahim’s younger brother claims $2.9 million worth of loans he gave Lahood are secured by a caveat in the five-bedroom property. With the caveat remaining in place, Lahood requires Ibrahim’s permission to sell.

Also among those with a stake in the home are Westpac, who the court heard are repossessing the five-bedroom mansion.

The ATO also have a caveat on the property, with Lahood allegedly owing almost $2 million to the tax office.

In 2016, they applied to freeze her property assets and bank accounts. The case was discontinued.

Lahood, who did not appear in court today, is the daughter of convicted drug dealer Harry Lahood.

She is set to return to the Supreme Court again on Friday for a show cause appearance against Westpac.