Fairfield: Nasser Kalache alleged as mastermind for Covid fraud cannabis scheme, denied bail
Police allege Fairfield real estate agents made over $700,000 in Covid rent relief applications while running grow houses, after $2m of cannabis was seized.
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Real estate agents charged by police in a combined Covid benefits fraud and cannabis grow ring sting have appeared in Fairfield Local Court today, with the alleged ringleader of the scheme denied bail despite currently receiving treatment for cancer.
Police allege Nasser Kalache, 52, is the mastermind behind the alleged grow house and fraud scheme, and charged him with 10 offences, including cultivating prohibited plants, using false document to obtain financial advantage, and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Also appearing in court were Muhammad Al-Nasiry, 35, and Sabrina Loschiavo, 37.
The court heard that Kalache allegedly ran the two grow houses which were raided by police, one of which contained 85 cannabis plants, and the second containing 184.
The court heard that the companies Kalache worked for, some of which he also owned, applied for more than $700,000 in rental relief payments related to the COVID Residential Tenancy Support Payment, which police allege was done without the consent of the tenants within the buildings.
That scheme was allegedly run through RW Partners in Fairfield, where Kalache, Loschiavo, and Antonio Fedele worked as real estate agents.
From the claims, more than $328,000 were allegedly paid out, with $400,000 pending, according to the charges.
The money received then moved between company accounts owned by Mr Kalache, according to the police facts cited in court.
Multiple grow houses were raided by police, including a residence on Hamilton Road, Fairfield, the front of which hosted a business allegedly owned by Kalache, NSW Maintenance Solutions, complete with signage.
Police also allege his car from his real estate role was parked outside of the Hamilton Road Address, with gardening equipment found inside of it.
The court heard that the house featured a false wall, behind which was a sophisticated cannabis grow house, with 85 cannabis plants.
Additionally, documents owned by Kalache were found in a shed on the property, according to police prosecutor Jacky Lozanoska.
A second alleged grow house in Market St, Smithfield, was also raided by police.
Prosecutor Lozanoska argued that Kalache’s past convictions for offences relating to interfering with the course of justice made him an unacceptable risk for bail, citing more than 160 potential witnesses in the fraud charges that could be interfered with.
Representing Kalache in court was Mr Campbell, who argued that documents belonging to Kalache found metres away from the alleged grow house did not necessarily mean that he knew what was happening.
“The police station is metres away from Your Honour now, it doesn’t mean you’re aware of what’s going on there,” Mr Campbell said.
Mr Campbell pointed out that Kalache is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer once a week at Westmead Hospital, arguing that because he is a Type-2 diabetic, and immunosuppressed, staying in jail would be a health risk.
Magistrate Gibson told the court that Justice NSW would be capable of providing the treatments, and noted Kalache’s past criminal record, citing matters of violence, fraud, money laundering, and public justice offences, when denying bail.
“There are clearly unacceptable risks for him to commit further offences, considering the organised nature of the crime,” Magistrate Gibson said.
Muhammad Al-Nasiry, 35, had his bail denied today for charges of cultivating prohibited plants. The court heard that his DNA was found on two Gatorade bottles at both of the alleged grow houses.
His lawyer, Daniel Gaudillo, argued that the two objects were movable and therefore could not definitely prove he was there, citing a High Court precedent involving a didgeridoo found at a crime scene.
Magistrate Gibson rejected the argument, noting that finding two separate Gatorade bottles at two separate locations would be too great a coincidence without potential involvement.
Sabrina Loschiavo, 37, made bail for her charges, which included participating in a criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, making false document to obtain financial advantage and use of false document to obtain financial advantage.
Magistrate Gibson cited the potential disruption for her two children that would occur in the case of her imprisonment when granting bail.
The court heard that Loschiavo allegedly handled the fraudulent Covid relief applications, processing them in a different manner to how they should have been.
As part of her bail conditions, Magistrate Gibson forbid Loschiavo to apply for another job in real estate.
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