‘King of the Cross’ John Ibrahim emerges from home following arrest of brothers, son and girlfriend
EXCLUSIVE PICTURES: ‘KING of the Cross’ John Ibrahim cut a lonely figure as he emerged from his eastern suburbs bolthole for the first time since his empire crumbled around him.
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- John Ibrahim allegedly recorded in wire taps
- John Ibrahim’s home raided and Michael and Fadi arrested
JOHN Ibrahim cut a lonely figure back in the heart of Kings Cross yesterday — surfacing for the first time since an international police drug sting charged two of his brothers, his son and even netted his girlfriend with an alleged illegal firearm.
It comes as Dubai media report his brothers Michael and Fadi along with Mustapha Dib, Stephen Elmir and Koder Jomaa will be held for at least another week while authorities investigate the “drug gang” for “possessing psychotropic substances to be trafficked”.
The group was arrested as part of last week’s raids that stretched from Sydney to Dubai and the Netherlands.
The reports warn the extradition process could drag on for weeks if the Ibrahims and their associates exercise their “right to refuse being extradited”.
John Ibrahim, who was not charged as part of the operation, refused to comment when approached by The Daily Telegraph yesterday morning after finally surfacing outside his bolthole Dover Heights home.
Ibrahim, whose mansion was searched for eight hours during the raids that police say has smashed open an alleged billion-dollar drug and tobacco smuggling network, spent his afternoon in Kings Cross.
He started at one of the properties he owns with business partner Margaret Staltaro.
He also visited the now notorious Crane Bar, which is operated by his partner Sarah Budge. The 27-year-old former model was last week granted bail after a loaded Glock pistol was allegedly found in her Double Bay home during raids on Ibrahim friends and relatives.
When approached in his old stomping ground for comment, Ibrahim would only say “no, no”.
His lawyer Abbas Soukie last night told The Daily Telegraph his client was in no way involved in anything related to last week’s arrests.
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“The Australian Federal Police have confirmed that there is no allegation or any suggestion that Mr Ibrahim is involved in any way in the alleged criminal syndicate,” Mr Soukie said.
Budge also refused to comment when approached by The Daily Telegraph.
Budge has not been charged with any offences relating to the drug syndicate.
Ibrahim, 46, has been out of public view since the August 8 Operation Veyda raids. The raids hit in the middle of a much-hyped book tour for his autobiography Last King of the Cross.
Earlier yesterday morning his son Daniel, who was released on $630,000 bail after being charged with allegedly helping to transfer more than $2.25 million as part of the drug and tobacco smuggling syndicate, drove out of his home — just two houses up from his father’s — in a white Mercedes 4WD.
The 26-year-old must report to Waverley Police Station daily and live with his mother at her Bondi Junction address.
Across at Coogee, Daniel Ibrahim’s empty “Beach Bowls” shop bears a “For Lease” sign after closing a few months ago.
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