Amin Fahmy committed for trial on firearms offences

A southern Sydney builder accused of stashing a submachine gun and a semiautomatic rifle in a manhole has made a bizarre court appearance ahead of his matter being committed to trial.

The Downing Centre local court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

A builder accused of stashing a submachine gun and a semiautomatic rifle at his southern Sydney unit has been committed to the District Court for trial after a bizarre court appearance.

Construction worker Amin Fahmy went head-to-head with a solicitor acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions as she sought to have his firearm offences committed to the NSW District Court for trial.

Fahmy, 28, represented himself during the peculiar appearance at Downing Centre Local Court, in which he said he could not afford a solicitor because he “wasn’t John Ibrahim”, and asked why everyone was laughing after he sought a mental health assessment.

When Ms Freund indicated she was inclined to commit the matter to the NSW District Court for trial, Fahmy then asked if he could have a mental health assessment to assess whether he was fit to enter a plea.

“Why is everybody laughing,” Fahmy said, barely suppressing laughter himself over the audiovisual link.

“Nobody is laughing,” Ms Freund responded.

The Minto man was charged with two counts of possessing an unregistered firearm; two counts of possessing ammunition without holding a licence; and not keeping a firearm safely in October 2022.

He was further charged with possessing cannabis, supplying ketamine and contravening an apprehended violence order.

A MAC-10 9mm sub-machine gun, similar to the kind allegedly possessed by Fahmy.

At a prior bail application, the court heard a video which allegedly shows him stuffing the firearms into a manhole outside a Hurstville unit was uncovered after he was stopped for driving while he was allegedly suspended.

Fahmy now stands charged with possessing a Mac 10 submachine gun with a silencer or suppressor, a modified semiautomatic rifle, and two loaded magazines with ammunition inside.

In court before Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund on Monday, DPP solicitor Georgia Alexander said an offer had been made to Fahmy – which he had rejected.

Fahmy returned fire, saying the raid at his address had not been filmed and stated that was illegal.

Ms Alexander then told the court she had personally compiled the USB provided to Fahmy in custody on remand, and it included a folder of videos from the search warrant at his address.

Fahmy then said he had not had sufficient time to review the full brief of evidence and said he could not afford a solicitor because he was not “John Ibrahim”.

The magistrate committed Fahmy’s matter to the NSW District Court and ordered a Justice Health report to assess Fahmy’s mental fitness, though she commented he seemed like an “intelligent” man who was capable of entering pleas.

The matter has now been adjourned to Sydney District Court for first mention on July 28.

Ms Freund urged Fahmy to obtain legal advice.