Ali Abdulrahman: Man allegedly behind Elias kidnap plot
A St Marys concreting business owner and two of his employees stand accused of the violent kidnapping of Pierre Kassouf and attempted abduction of party boat king Joe Elias (pictured).
Penrith
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A St Marys business owner who allegedly oversaw a kidnapping in St Marys and an attempted kidnapping in Drummoyne will stay behind bars on remand with the two employees he allegedly used to assist in the crimes.
Ali Abdulrahman, 39, of Luddenham, and Kaio Pula, 40, of Mt Pritchard, both applied for release on bail before Magistrate Brian van Zuylen in Penrith Local Court on March 11.
The court heard police will allege Abdulrahman, who owns a concrete business in St Marys, oversaw a violent kidnapping and assault of Pierre Kassouf in St Marys last November and the attempted kidnapping of Sydney businessman Joe Elias in Drummoyne last Friday.
Pula is alleged to have assisted in both operations and a third co-accused, Fredericks Taufua, was denied bail in Mt Druitt Local Court on February 26, in relation to the Kassouf incident only.
The court heard Taufua and Pula allegedly assaulted Mr Kassouf and drove him to a Shanes Park address in a “dark-coloured Commodore”.
Police will allege Abdulrahman was driving a “black Astra” that was seen driving near the business, then seen driving in “proximity” to the Commodore towards Shanes Park.
Police say Kassouf was found bound in a shed on a property in Shanes Park by real estate agents the next day and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Abdulrahman and Pula are alleged to have planned to kidnap Elias by crashing into his car and holding him for ransom.
Police said a Hilux ute crashed into Mr Elias’ car at Drummoyne on March 6. It is alleged the plan was to then snatch the businessman, the brother of former NRL star Ben Elias, when he got out of his car. However, Mr Elias escaped down a nearby side street.
The mens’ lawyer argued the crown’s case was weak against Abdulrahman.
“What is clearly known is these two gentlemen are employed by my client, but he has a business with 15 employees,” he said.
“We have a period of time where we don’t know how he’s gotten in the Astra, and we don’t know what his involvement is.
“My client is scratching his head about this. We can’t dispute these two gentlemen used vehicles at his business, but there’s not one skerrick of DNA evidence on my client.
“He has six or seven vehicles connected to the business, and employees take them and sometimes don’t bring them back at night.
“It’s not unusual for them to be driving these motor vehicles.”
The lawyer argued Abdulrahman had an alibi during the second incident.
“He is getting his hair cut in a barber shop in Mt Druitt when this offence occurs,” he said.
The lawyer argued Pula’s DNA evidence, found inside a “Roosters cap” was also circumstantial.
However, the prosecution said it had a strong case.
“The evidence may be circumstantial, but that doesn’t mean its weak,” he said.
“Our case is Abdulrahman isn’t getting his hands dirty, but he is involved in the criminal enterprise.
“They know each other, we have CCTV footage, and we have DNA linking the two other parties.”
Magistrate van Zuylen refused bail for both men, saying not enough doubt had been cast on the case.
The two men will next appear in Penrith Local Court on May 8.