Ramzi Jabbour: Ex AFP deputy’s hunting trip detailed in court
A string of AFP officers were roped in the kangaroo hunting trip which has landed former deputy commissioner Ramzi Jabbour in strife with the law, a court has heard.
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A string of senior Australian Federal Police staff went to extraordinary lengths, and used taxpayer resources, to arrange a private hunting trip for embattled former deputy commissioner Ramzi Jabbour and his relatives, a court has heard.
Jabbour on Tuesday faced the ACT Magistrates Court for the second day of a hearing, over charges he possessed a prohibited firearm and dishonestly exercising influence as a public official.
He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Crucial aspects of the case — including information which is already public — cannot be published because of a series of suppression orders made by Magistrate James Stewart.
The weapons charge stems from allegations Jabbour used his work Glock to hunt kangaroos.
The dishonesty charge stems from an unrelated allegation that Jabbour sent off questions to an AFP lawyer, the answers to which were forwarded on and copy-and-pasted into an assignment as part of a relative’s legal studies.
Detective Superintendent Thomas Hester told the court Jabbour told him one of his relatives was “interested in AFP capabilities”, and in particular wanted to get a feel for a certain submachine gun.
Supt Hester, who agreed he was a “middle manager” in the force, arranged for Jabbour and his relatives to visit a shooting range at Majura, followed by the hunting trip.
Jabbour’s executive assistant — referred to in court only as Ms Jackson — had come to Supt Hester with a “request or a desire to go hunting with his (relatives)”, he said.
Supt Hester, after asking a subordinate, eventually suggested Jabbour and his relatives could use the secretive training spot.
Supt Hester sent Jabbour a text message saying “good luck out there, sorry I can’t join you”.
Following the trip, Jabbour sent Supt Hester a text saying he had an “awesome time”.
Jabbour also sent Supt Hester a text message asking what the two senior officers, who accompanied him and his relatives on the trip, liked to drink.
Supt Hester personally paid for 500 rounds of ammo for Jabbour and his relatives to use, which Jabbour reimbursed him for.
Supt Hester said if he had known Jabbour was going to use work weapons to go hunting, he “would have stopped the event”.
“The hunting activity was to be a private activity with private weapons to be used,” he said.
The allegation that Jabbour possessed a prohibited weapon stems from the hunting trip not being a legitimate police function.
The hearing continues.
