Feras Abdul-Hamid granted bail over serious drug supply charges

The former hardware businessman had a “severe drug addiction” when he was allegedly caught supplying heroin and meth. Now he wants to attend rehab for 12 months to get clean.

A Berkeley man who was allegedly found with meth and heroin hidden inside his car has been granted bail to attend a full-time, 12-month drug rehabilitation program.

Feras Abdul-Hamid, 41, made an application for release in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, with his father offering $450,000 to secure his son’s attendance at court.

Abdul-Hamid was arrested in July last year shortly along with his wife Suzanna Ristevska following an investigation into an alleged methylamphetamine and heroin ring operating between the Illawarra and Sydney.

Abdul-Hamid was charged with commercial drug supply, dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.

Ristevska was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity, and tampering with evidence with the intent to mislead a judicial tribunal.

The court heard Abdul-Hamid was self-employed in a hardware business and was on government welfare at the time of his alleged drug supply.

Berkeley's Feras Abdul-Hamid (left), pictured with his wife and co-accused Suzanna Ristevska, has been charged with commercial drug supply. Picture: Facebook

Justice Richard Cavanagh noted Abdul-Hamid was heavily addicted to drugs, and would take a gram of meth and a gram of heroin daily.

The court heard Abdul-Hamid allegedly sold drugs between May and July 2021.

Police allegedly found freezer bags containing drugs under the dashboard of his Toyota HiLux vehicle.

Police allegedly found 39.43 grams of heroin, another 2.33 grams of heroin and 3.74 grams of methylamphetamine.

“He was charged with supplying drugs on a number of occasions, to a number of different people,” Justice Cavanagh said.

Abdul-Hamid’s lawyer Wali Shukoor said his client had secured a full-time, 12-month residential drug rehabilitation program in the Richmond area.

He noted the strict bail conditions would “mitigate all relevant concerns” so there was no unacceptable risk.

Mr Shukoor conceded the Crown had a “strong case” for the charge of commercial drug supply and he indicated Abdul-Hamid would plead guilty to the charge and the matter would proceed to sentence in the District Court.

“He has an uncontroversially longstanding serious drug addiction,” he said.

Mr Shukoor said his client had previously been given chances to complete rehabilitation himself but had never been committed but now had a “genuine interest” to get clean.

He said Abdul-Hamid’s father would collect his son from Kempsey jail and drive him directly to the rehab centre.

Mr Shukoor noted his client did not have ties to the community in Richmond as his family were based in the Illawarra.

Abdul-Hamid’s father offered a $450,000 surety by way of the equity in his home to secure his son abided by his bail conditions and attended court.

As part of his bail conditions, if Abdul-Hamid left the centre for any reason he must surrender himself to police.

A Crown prosecutor noted Abdul-Hamid had a lengthy criminal history and had previously been given chances to attend rehabilitation which he had not taken, adding he was given parole twice to assist him with getting clean.

The Crown told the court Abdul-Hamid could face up to six years in prison if convicted.

Justice Cavanagh reviewed the police documents tendered to court which detailed the allegations against Abdul-Hamid noting the Crown case was “relatively strong”.

He did take into account Abdul-Hamid’s “extensive criminal history” for drug, motor vehicle, property offences.

Justice Cavanagh noted the proposed bail conditions were “very strict” and was satisfied Abdul-Hamid could be released from custody to attend the rehabilitation program.

Abdul-Hamid must also surrender his passport to police before being released from custody.

Abdul-Hamid and Ristevska’s cases were briefly mentioned in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, with both yet to enter pleas.

Their cases were both adjourned to July 6.