Jessie Dahdah: real estate agent on drug charges applies for bail

A Sydney real estate agent charged with drug supply has told a court a stack of cash found in his bedroom was actually for his upcoming wedding to his fiance.

A stack of cash which saw a young real estate agent charged with dealing with crime proceeds was actually a wedding fund he was accumulating with his beloved, a court has heard.

Former Greenacre real estate agent Jessie Dahdah was charged in February with a total of 18 drug-related offences, including supplying a prohibited drug on an ongoing basis.

Jessie Dahdah, 29, has been charged with drug supply following an Organised Crime Squad operation that seized cocaine, a poker machine and steroids.

During a bail hearing for Dahdah on Wednesday (July 21), the Supreme Court heard his fiancee had signed an affidavit relating to the cash seized by police from her home in Woolooware.

“There is a hypothesis consistent with innocence in relation to the knowingly deal with proceeds of crime (charge) which is the cash found in the safe in the applicant’s fiance’s bedroom was actually his fiance’s money being set aside for their imminent wedding,” Justice Christine Adamson said.

Dahdah’s barrister Derek Shridhar told the court his client had a cocaine addiction unbeknown to his parents.

“I’m not being sceptical about his father’s evidence – it is quite possible for children to grossly mislead parents that they don’t have a drug addiction when in fact they do,” Justice Adamson said.

“This isn’t someone with a drug problem, this is someone charged with continuous supply – there are so many (alleged) instances by undercover officers.

“This is someone doing this for business purposes – this is not low level dealing for personal purposes.”

Jessie Dahdah, 29.

Police allege he dealt a total of 17.5g of cocaine across 15 deals between January 15 and February 12, the court heard.

“At the end of the day they are small street level deals,” Mr Shridhar said.

“Your Honour makes a very good point. They (the alleged deals) are not purely for personal purposes, but there is an addiction.”

Mr Shridhar told the court Dahdah’s parents had agreed to supervise him while on bail at their home in Moorebank and his fiancee remained supportive.

Justice Adamson noted the matter will most likely be resolved by a plea negotiation but still may proceed to trial.

Jessie Dahdah, 29.

“I regret I am unable to be satisfied the current bail proposal is sufficient to ameliorate the risks,” Justice Adamson said.

“The damage done to society by dealing drugs, including in smaller quantities which it would appear the applicant is (allegedly) dealing, is a great scourge on the community.

“If it is the way the applicant earnt money in the past, I don’t think I can have confidence he will not re engage.”

Bail was formally refused.