Yosra Rabieh awaits sentence for ‘guarding’ drugs in family home

A mother found guilty of “guarding” a huge amount of the drug ‘ice’ in a Sydney garage for her ex-husband is set to be sentenced.

Yosra Rabieh outside Downing Centre District Court on Friday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A Castle Hill mother is hoping to remain out of jail after she was found guilty of “guarding” a huge amount of the drug ‘ice’ in her garage before she moved some into her house, a court has heard.

Yosra Rabieh, 34, was found guilty of supplying a commercial amount of drugs, taking part in the supply of a commercial quantity of drugs and dealing with property proceeds of crime following a District Court trial.

During sentencing submissions at Downing Centre District Court on Friday, the court heard 30.6kg were found in a cage in her garage and she moved 2.6kg inside to a bedroom in 2018.

The court heard Rabieh’s ex-husband Ali Maleki pleaded guilty and was sentenced to jail following his role in sourcing drugs overseas and importing them on pallets for the purpose of selling them.

Rabieh’s barrister David Phillips said his client’s role was much less than her ex-husband, with her involvement limited to “knowingly letting her home be used as a storage facility”.

Yosra Rabieh during a previous court appearance. Picture: Toby Zerna

The court heard Maleki trusted his wife to “guard the haul of prohibited drugs” and she was his “confidant”.

Rabieh had spent almost two years in custody following her arrest in February 2018. Since being released on bail, she has been subject to strict bail conditions.

The court heard Rabieh had been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder that was not present at the time of the offending and a Crown prosecutor said there was therefore no “nexus” between her mental health and crimes.

He said Rabieh’s depression was the result of the ongoing legal process and fears she would be separated from her family if imprisoned.

Mr Phillips submitted Rabieh’s mental health would deteriorate if she was removed from her children, adding Rabieh was still breastfeeding and had made a specialist appointment to discuss what to do about feeding her baby if she is jailed.

Yosra Rabieh during a previous court appearance. Picture: Toby Zerna

The prosecutor said Rabieh was not remorseful for her crimes but had no previous criminal history.

He further submitted Rabieh “overplayed” that she was a victim of domestic violence that she suffered at the hands of her former husband but the barrister said there was evidence of domestic violence from Rabieh and her family members.

The court heard Rabieh had a traumatic and violent childhood in Iran where she was left “feeling alone and unwanted,” but the Crown prosecutor submitted that during evidence Rabieh’s father appeared “doting”.

The court previously heard Rabieh and her ex-husband relocated from Iran to Australia in 2013 and she had studied law in Iran.

The barrister said Rabieh was most concerned about who would care for her children, with the court hearing her eldest child was living with her grandmother in Iran, another was not in her care and the two youngest daughters, who were the children of Rabieh’s current partner, were in her care.

Mr Phillips submitted Rabieh’s partner may be unable to care for the children full time due to his own mental health issues.

Judge Ian Bourke allowed Rabieh to remain on bail but warned her to be prepared to go into custody when he sentenced her on September 1.