Rafat Alameddine ‘boss’ of crime network in war with Hamzys, police allege

Rafat Alameddine is the one calling the shots in the crime network’s war with the Hamzys, according to police allegations tendered to court.

The Alameddine family is so paranoid about a revenge attack in its murderous street war with the Hamzy crew, the gang has allegedly taken it upon themselves to set up security checkpoints on roads surrounding their “leader’s” suburban home.

Police allege that on several occasions people walking or driving through Merrylands have been stopped and told to show photo ID by Alameddine crew members out of concern they could be a hired hit man.

The incredible measures allegedly taken by the Alameddines to control the southwestern suburb can be revealed by The Daily Telegraph after the weekend’s arrest of Ali Elmoubayed, an alleged “high ranking member” of the crew.

Rafat Alameddine is considered the leader of his family’s organised crime network, police have told a court. Photographer: Adam Yip

Elmoubayed was pulled over in Merrylands about 6.30pm on Thursday and charged with two breaches of COVID-19 public health orders and possessing cannabis.

But police also allege the 28-year-old has been “intimidating” anyone passing near the home of the man police believe to be the crime network‘s leader, Rafat Alameddine.

With police believing the murders of Mejid Hamzy and his cousin Bilal Hamze were both linked to the Alameddine and Hamzy war, there have long been fears of revenge attacks.

Court documents allege that Elmoubayed has been put in charge of ensuring the Alameddines do not suffer any losses and that he “primarily conducts protection duties for Rafat Alameddine”.

When stopped in Merrylands on Thursday night, police spoke with ­Elmoubayed about his reasons for being away from home in the current lockdown.

During the discussion an officer pointed to a parked vehicle and asked him: “Do you know who owns that car?”

“No, that‘s why I came to check... some strange car is parked in front of my mate’s house,” police allege Elmoubayed replied.

Police further allege that in recent times the Alameddines have organised crews to patrol the streets of Merrylands and report on anything suspicious.

Any person who the crews did not recognise - either in a car or on foot - could be stopped and asked who they are, and where they were going.

They even attempted to “intimidate” people into providing photo identification where possible, according to police.

Elmoubayed pleaded guilty in Fairfield Local Court on Monday and was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order.

The revelations about the alleged efforts to protect Rafat Alameddine come just days after a court heard that police consider him to be the crime network’s leader.

According to police allegations tendered in Parramatta District Court last Friday, Rafat, 29, is the one calling the shots in the war with the Hamzys.

During the hearing, in which his lawyer Abdul Saddik successfully applied to have Rafat’s bail conditions relaxed, the court heard he had taken control of the Alameddine crew after his younger brother Talal’s imprisonment for supplying the gun used to shoot dead NSW Police accountant Curtis Cheng.

Judge Sophia Beckett read part of a document by Senior Constable Jordan Lonergan that stated: “Snr Const. Lonergan outlined his view the applicant is the leader of the Alameddine Organised Crime Network … ever since his brother was convicted of a serious offence in February 2018.”

Rafat Alameddine’s high-profile criminal solicitor Abdul Saddik (front) argued the conditions were unwarranted in the current COVID-19 climate.

Prior to Friday’s hearing, Rafat had been required to report to police daily and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

But the Alameddine’s high-profile criminal solicitor Mr Saddik argued the conditions were unwarranted in the current COVID-19 climate.

The court also heard that with tensions between the Alameddines and Hamzy clans at an all time high, there was an additional reason to reduce the amount of time Rafat spends outside.

“The requirement to report daily puts him in peril given the current circumstances of the conflict between the warring families,” Judge Beckett told the court.

With a $900,000 surety laid down to ­secure his release on charges of robbery in company and aggravated assault, Judge Beckett reduced Rafat’s bail conditions so he  can present himself to police three times a week and report by phone the other four days.