Operation Veyda: Ibrahim relatives accused of involvement in alleged drugs and tobacco racket
TWO more members of nightclub king John Ibrahim’s family, including the man who married Salim Mehajer’s sister, have been charged over the same alleged international crime syndicate which netted his son and two brothers.
NSW
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TWO more members of nightclub king John Ibrahim’s family have been charged over the same alleged international crime syndicate which netted his son and two brothers.
Sam Sayour, 26, who married into Salim Mehajer’s family last year, and his brother Abraham Sayour, 21, both faced Central Local Court on Wednesday, each charged with possessing tobacco products they knew to be illegally imported.
Sam faces the additional charge of dealing with money the proceeds of crime worth $10,000.
The pair were among five new defendants handed court attendance notices on January 24 by officers from the Australian Federal Police-run Operation Veyda. They are nephews to John Ibrahim.
The other three were 27-year-old Ahmad Klink, 42-year-old Kingsley Conomos and 44-year-old Talal Derbas.
Derbas is facing two counts of conveying illicit tobacco and one count of possess or use prohibited weapon, Klink is charged with three counts of conveying illicit tobacco and Conomos has been charged with one count of aid, abet, counsel or procure an offence.
John Ibrahim’s brother’s Michael and Fadi Ibrahim were arrested in Dubai in a sensational set of 30 raids in August centred on one of Australia’s most largest and most audacious alleged schemes to import drugs and tobacco.
Daniel Ibrahim was arrested in Dover Heights and charged with helping to hand over $2.25 million as part of the tobacco importation operation.
MYSTERIOUS SHOOTING OF ‘TONGAN SAM’
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The Sayour brothers both had their matters adjourned to May 2, with a number of bail and reporting conditions, including surrendering their passports.
The newly charged defendants take the number of Veyda targets now before the court to 18.
Sam Sayour and controversial former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer’s sister, Aisha, tied the knot in November last year.
Luxury cars lined the streets surrounding the houses during what appeared to be a low-key wedding.
John Ibrahim’s bodyguard was shot and injured just days before the wedding.
Semi “Tongan Sam’’ Ngata, 59, took a bullet which police were initially told hit him in the back and was fired over a fence at the Merrylands home of Mr Ibrahim’s mother.
It was initially thought Mr Ngata’s shooting may have been the result of a feud between certain relatives of the happy couple.
Despite Mr Ngata’s silence, police now believe his shooting could be connected to an underworld feud involving extended family members, rather than a violent bid to derail the nuptials.