Paralegal Alina Antal turned drug boss under jailed alleged Assyrian gang associate lover’s orders

A woman who once trained to be a paralegal became the unlikely head of a western Sydney cannabis syndicate after taking directions from her jailed lover, an alleged Assyrian gang associate.

A WOMAN who once trained to be a paralegal became the unlikely head of a western Sydney cannabis syndicate after taking directions from her jailed lover, an alleged Assyrian gang associate.

Alina Antal, 31, was sentenced to three years and six months behind bars, with two years non-parole, for her role directing nine drug runners, which included four minors. With time already served she could walk out of prison in just three months.

Wollongong District Court heard the group was so brazen that even though they had been raided twice by police – who had secretly installed bugs at the two drug houses in Fairfield and Cabramatta – it continued supplying cannabis until a third and final raid in February 2017. On that occasion, police found marijuana in the kitchen and washing machine, cash, cannabis seeds and resealable bags.

Alina Antal, 31, was sentenced on Friday to three years and six months behind bars, with two years non-parole. Picture: Facebook

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Detectives from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad became aware of the cannabis network while investigating tit-for-tat violence between feuding Assyrian gangs.

The operation supplied seven kilograms of cannabis and Judge Chris O’Brien said “the value would have been substantial”.

At the very top was Antal’s boyfriend and alleged Assyrian gang associate, Oliver Merza, 28, who smuggled 14 phones into jail so he could direct activities from his Silverwater cell.

Judge O’Brien said it was “beyond doubt” Merza was at the apex of the criminal enterprise and the most morally culpable.

He sentenced him to four years six months behind bars with three years non-parole, meaning with time served he could be out in February 2020.

The court heard Merza was born in Iraq and his family fled their home when he was four, escaping to Jordan before coming to Australia. He went to Fairfield High School until Year 10. The former apprentice plumber had a gambling problem and drug addiction, which included ice and cocaine.

Alina Antal’s boyfriend and alleged Assyrian gang associate, Oliver Merza, 28, smuggled 14 phones into jail so he could direct activities from his Silverwater cell.

Andrew Koro. Picture: Monique Harmer.

Ronaldo Odisho. Picture: Monique Harmer.

In 2016 he was charged over the near fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.

“She regarded it as an easy employment option,” Deputy Chief Magistrate O’Brien said.

Drug runners Romario Patto, 22, and Yousif Kiorkis, 20, who conducted “vital roles” were each sentenced to 20 months non-parole.

Despite showing an “appalling anti-social attitude” since his guilty plea to participating in the criminal group, Ronaldo Odisho, 20, avoided a jail sentence and was sentenced to a 15-month intensive corrections order.

Korkis Sefo pictured outside the Downing Centre. Picture: Monique Harmer.

Andrew Koro, 27, who the court heard “minimised his offending” by citing a “cultural vendetta” by police, was sentenced to an 18-month intensive correction order.

Iraqi-born Korkis Sefo, 22, was handed a two-year intensive corrections order and, like Koro, will have to abstain from drugs, not associate with any co-offenders and do community service.