Hassan Zreika, Nadir Zreika, Martin Abrahamian: Cocaine dealers sentenced

An ex-prison inmate succumbed to dealing coke for the third time after his publicised affair with a female guard (who is not accused of any involvement in the drug supply) broke down.

A former prison inmate succumbed to using and dealing cocaine for the third time after his highly publicised illicit affair with a female prison guard broke down upon his release on parole.

A court heard Hassan Zreika, 43, began a relationship with former Parklea Jail officer Tara Brooks in 2019 while he was serving his second jail term for drug supply.

The relationship collapsed as Brooks was NSW’s first corrections officer to be charged under new legislation explicitly prohibiting intimate relationships between guards and inmates.

She pleaded guilty to the illicit relationship and received an 18-month conditional release order at Parramatta District Court in October 2019 when her conviction was overturned on appeal.

Bikini model and ex-prison officer Tara Brooks, who is not accused of any involvement in the drug supply.

Brooks had no involvement in Zreika’s drug supply.

Despite months of sobriety behind bars and then on parole, the failed relationship saw Zreika return to old habits, using cocaine and dealing it from an established drug premises to support his habit.

Zreika, his cousin Nadir Zreika and their associate Martin Abrahamian were subsequently charged with cocaine supply and dealing with crime proceeds after police used hidden cameras observe the trio facilitating drug deals at a Macquarie Park unit over several months in 2019.

At Sydney District Court, Judge Clive Jeffreys said Zreika began supplying drugs to support his renewed addiction after his relationship with Brooks failed.

Brooks and Hassan Zreika traded love letters and Valentine’s Day cards after Zreika asked her to be his girlfriend.

“They were able to meet again after he got parole but the relationship ended a short time later, she was embarrassed by the media attention and it did not work out,” Judge Jeffreys said.

“He was using cocaine and was addicted to it, and involved himself in the offences to assist him with his drug habit.”

Judge Jeffreys said all three men involved themselves in cocaine supply due to their abiding addictions, which for Abrahamian began when he was just 13.

“He was smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol, and by the age of 14 started using ecstasy and LSD, and by 16 he smoked heroin regularly,” Judge Jeffreys said.

“His mother worked 12 hour shifts and his father was a gambler, so by the age of five he was left alone for prolonged periods.”

Nadir Zreika (right) leaving the Downing Centre with his lawyer last year. He is the cousin of Hassan Zreika, who had an affair with a prison guard. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Nadir Zreika was arrested after police raided his North Kellyville home, finding cocaine in a Prada toiletries bag and $115,700 cash in a secret compartment in his kitchen, along with knuckle dusters and an extendible baton in his bedroom.

The father of two was previously unknown to police before a crippling back injury at work saw him spiral into cocaine use to cope with his pain.

“He herniated his disc in his lower back and has suffered considerable pain since that time, and has been hospitalised for emergency treatment in 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2020,” Judge Jeffreys said.

“He had a significant period of drug use which coincided with his ongoing back issues and pain – he was using cocaine daily from May 2018 until 2019 up to his arrest.”

Nadir Zreika at the Downing Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Hassan Zreika ultimately pleaded guilty to commercial drug supply pertaining to 382.65g of cocaine and dealing with crime proceeds of $186,000.

Nadir Zreika pleaded guilty to supplying 110.71g of cocaine and dealing with $115,700 in crime proceeds.

Abrahamian pleaded guilty to indictable drug supply and dealing with $34,000 in crime proceeds.

“They were all users and abusers of cocaine,” Judge Jeffreys said.

“I’m satisfied that each was addicted to that prohibited drug.”

Judge Jeffreys concluded all three dealers were significantly addicted to cocaine throughout their offending.

Judge Jeffreys sentenced Hassan Zreika to five years and six months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years.

With time served he will be eligible for parole on August 15 next year.

Martin Abrahamian was sentenced to three years and three months, with a non-parole period of one year and 10 months.

With time served he will be eligible for release on July 24.

Nadir Zreika – who has been on bail since he was charged – narrowly avoided full-time imprisonment, receiving a supervised intensive corrections order for two years and four months with 500 hours of community service.

When Judge Jeffreys adjourned the court, Hassan Zreika and Martin Abrahamian smiled and whooped from the audiovisual link while Nadir Zreika embraced his tearful wife.

“Relax cuz, it’s over,” Hassan Zreika said.

“I love you bro.”