Nasser Kalache: Fairfield real estate agent denied bail on second attempt

A real estate agent accused of running a cannabis syndicate, which also allegedly made $400,000 of fake Covid benefit claims, has missed crucial cancer treatments while remanded in custody, a court has heard.

The alleged ringleader of a syndicate which police claim was simultaneously running a Covid benefit fraud scheme and multiple cannabis grow houses has made a second attempt at bail in Fairfield Local Court.

Nasser Kalache, 52, was working at RW Partners Fairfield at the time of the alleged offences and was the owner of a business registered to the address of one of the growhouses.

The property featured signage for NSW Maintenance Solutions — Kalache’s business — and a false wall which police say hid a sophisticated growhouse, and 85 cannabis plants.

A second growhouse was also found by police, with 184 cannabis plants.

The court heard 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.

Nasser Kalache.

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 Kalache, according to the police facts cited in court.

Sabrina Loschiavo, 37, and Antonio Fedele were arrested in relation to the syndicate.

Fairfield real estate agent Sabrina Loschiavo. Picture: Facebook

Kalache was denied bail in his first court appearance on March 24, but his lawyers made another application to Fairfield Local Court on May 16, citing concerns around his medical treatment in custody.

His lawyer told the court Kalache — who previously had cancer, and is a diabetic — had missed two injections for his cancer treatments as a result of his arrest.

One of those, however, was scheduled for the day police arrested him, the court heard.

The second injection was given to Kalache a week after scheduled.

Magistrate Stuart Devine clarified the difference between missed and delayed to Kalache’s lawyer.

Kalache made a bid for bail at Fairfield Local Court.

“Missed to my mind says it was omitted altogether,” Magistrate Roberts said.

Kalache’s lawyer also pointed out the delay between the growhouses being raided in August 2021 and his client being arrested in March 2022, as an argument he would not flee if granted bail, and his client’s innocence.

“If he had anything to do with it, or wanted to take the Paris option, he had ample opportunity to do so”, Kalache’s lawyer said. “He stayed around.”

But, Kalache has admitted he is the owner of the business the growhouse was co-located with, the court heard.

Despite Kalache’s lawyer listing a litany of health issues his client needed treatment for, bail was refused.

“There’s nothing in the material before me that says Corrective Services can’t meet those needs,” Magistrate Devine said.

“The accused does have a history of significant violence, including time in prison.”

Kalache has been charged with 10 offences, including cultivating prohibited plants, using false document to obtain financial advantage, and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.