Mahmoud Houda accused of stealing $80k tools refused bail

Police allege a man stole more than $80,000 worth of power tools, including construction equipment, chainsaws and lawnmowers, before trying to sell them on social media.

A man who has been in custody for more than a year on remand denies he stole a haul of power tools worth more than $80,000 and has been denied bail for the second time.

Mahmound Houda, 28, appeared at Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday where he applied for bail for the second time since his arrest in May last year.

He is accused of stealing a large stash of power tools and construction equipment, coming undone when he allegedly tried to sell them on social media.

Investigators were first alerted when the alleged victim returned to his ute in Canley Vale to find his power tools had been stolen, then found they had been advertised for sale on social media that same day, a court heard.

Police allegedly recovered the stash of power tools at a Canley Heights home after they were advertised on social media. Picture: NSW Police

Following inquiries, police arrested Mr Houda at a home in Kiora St, Canley Heights, and searched the home.

Investigators allegedly found saws, hammer drills, chainsaws, lawnmowers, surveying equipment, demolition hammers, and six 20-litre buckets containing various hand tools, the court heard.

The items, valued at more than $80,000, were seized for forensic examination.

Mr Houda was charged with two counts of goods in custody suspected of being stolen, deal with proceeds of crime, attempt to dispose of stolen property, larceny, and enter vehicle without consent of owner.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been long-awaiting a hearing but it keeps being pushed back, the court heard on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old appeared at court in person, with his grandmother crying from the public gallery as he was brought into the dock.

His last bail application was on November 11, and Mr Houda’s 74-year-old grandmother has now offered to put up a $2000 surety, the court heard.

“Mr Houda is entitled to a presumption of innocence in relation to these charges,” his lawyer told the court.

Mahmoud Houda was refused bail for the second time at Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday.

The court heard Mr Houda’s next hearing date is set for September 24 with his lawyer saying he might have already completed any custodial sentence that might be imposed as he has been behind bars on remand for more than a year. By then, he will have been behind bars for 497 days.

“If convicted he may have already well exceeded his sentence by that day … a miscarriage of justice has and will occur if my client isn’t released on bail,” his lawyer said.

Magistrate Melissa Humphries said she was satisfied there had been a delay but noted Mr Houda was on parole at the time he allegedly committed the offences.

The police prosecutor said Mr Houda was a serious break and enter offender, with his DNA found on evidence and compelling CCTV footage from the alleged theft.

Magistrate Humphries agreed the allegations were very serious but the prosecution case was strong.

“There is a strong prosecution case with a likely custodial sentence and I need to consider his record,” she said.

“The offences were also allegedly committed while he was on parole, bail is refused.”

Mr Houda will remain behind bars on remand until his hearing in September.