Timmy Chandab extends overseas trip while charges pending

An alleged Alameddine crime network associate accused of laundering ill-gotten gains for criminal groups has been permitted to extend his latest of multiple overseas trips as he awaits trial.

Timmy Chandab leaves the Downing Centre Court Complex on November 3, 2023.

An alleged Alameddine associated accused of laundering dirty cash for criminal networks has been permitted to stretch out an overseas trip by a court as he awaits his upcoming trial.

Police dramatically swooped on former Brothers4Life gang member Tamem “Timmy” Chandab, 36, at his Pyrmont apartment in December, 2021, over money laundering allegations.

At a press conference at the time, NSW State Crime Command’s Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow said the arrest occurred after a five-month investigation under Strike Force City.

“(Police allege) members of certain groups in Sydney provided money to people to facilitate the laundering of these proceeds into other activities such as buying property, luxury watches, and high end cars,” Det Supt Critchlow told media.

Chandab was charged with two counts of dealing with property crime proceeds over his alleged role and he is set to defend the charges at trial on September 2 this year.

In November 2023, Chandab appeared before Judge Warwick Hunt at Sydney District Court where his solicitor Abigail Bannister sought temporary relief from his bail conditions to travel overseas.

The Downing Centre court complex. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“(The bail review is) to allow him to go on a trip overseas, and the court has previously allowed him to go on trips and he was returned in accordance with the bail orders,” Ms Bannister told the court.

“The first was for 23 days between January 4 and 26, and the second was for 37 days from July 28 to September 9.”

The destination and the purpose of the trips was not ventilated in court but Judge Hunt varied Chandab’s bail to permit him to travel overseas for a third time between December 19 last year and January 29 this year.

But at court on January 19 the court once again varied Chandab’s bail to allow him to stay overseas a full month longer than anticipated.

Represented by his solicitor in his absence, the court approved the extension of his trip until February 28.

He will be required to surrender his passport again to Sydney City Police upon his return.

At the 2021 press conference, Det Supt Critchlow said police would allege Chandab was previously associated with the Brothers4Life gang and had links to the Alameddine crime network – including “some of the members that are at large”.

Police officers from Strike Force Odin arrest Mohamad Alameddine at his apartment in Pyrmont in November 2023. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Chandab was on a list of people with whom alleged organised crime figure Mohamad “Moey” Alameddine is forbidden to associate due to a serious crime prevention order made in the NSW Supreme Court.

The list of people with whom Alameddine is also forbidden to associate with also includes senior Comanchero figures Tarek Zahed, Allan Meehan and Mark Buddle, as well as alleged crime clan leader Rafat Alameddine.

Chandab was also a groomsman at the now-infamous wedding of disgraced former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer.

There is no suggestion Salim Mehajer has any association with the money laundering allegations, the Alameddine network or the Brothers4Life.