Mohammad Tabbaa jailed for having two loaded guns at Hurstville station

A magistrate has found a young father had “no remorse” after he was busted with two loaded pistols at a busy train station in Sydney’s south.

Mohammad Tabbaa has been jailed for three years after he was found with two loaded firearms at Hurstville train station. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A young father busted with two loaded pistols inside a bag at Hurstville train station earlier this year will spend Christmas behind bars.

Mohammad Tabbaa, 22, of Rockdale, was sentenced to three years in jail, with a non-parole period of two years, on two counts of possessing unauthorised pistols, possessing ammunition and two counts of not keeping prohibited pistols safely at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

He immediately appealed the sentence, and will have a hearing at the Downing Centre District Court in April next year.

Agreed facts tendered to the court said police spotted Tabbaa at Hurstville train station about 6.30pm on February 22.

Officers spoke to Tabbaa after noting he appeared “nervous” and repeatedly grabbed at a black leather satchel bag while walking towards a car.

The driver of the car originally said he did not know Tabbaa, but changed his story to say he had come to pick him up.

An electrician has admitted to having two loaded firearms and ammunition inside a satchel bag he was wearing at a busy Hurstville train station. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Police found a CZ75 B9mm semi-automatic pistol with 9mm Luger rounds in Tabbaa’s bag, but no bullet was in the chamber.

Court documents stated all that was required to fire the gun was to rack the slide. Police also found more ammunition inside the bag.

Police also found a large clear resealable bag with about 50 rounds of 9mm Luger and .22 calibre ammunition inside the satchel bag, and a “very small” pistol - which did not have a serial number - ready to be fired.

The pistol had one complete .22 round in one of the barrels, another was empty and the other barrel contained a spent .22 calibre empty casing.

The court heard Tabbaa told a sentence assessment report writer he knew the risk he was taking in having the guns and his “only regret was getting caught”.

Tabbaa told the writer he had an outlaw motorcycle group affiliation and had the guns for “financial gain”, adding he was “frustrated” by a firearms prohibition order placed upon him.

In sentencing submissions, defence lawyer Vinny Vijay said Tabbaa denied both those claims.

Mohammad Tabbaa during a previous court appearance. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Magistrate Phillip Stewart the offending was very serious, noting the pistols were real, modern, in working order and were found with ammunition in a public place.

He said Tabbaa had not given an explanation for why he had the guns and ammunition, and they were easily concealed and retrievable.

Mr Stewart said submissions made in Tabbaa’s defence were “bare denials” and “self serving”, adding they contradicted the report.

He found Tabbaa was not remorseful, did not have good prospects of rehabilitation, and was likely to reoffend.

Mr Stewart said he was not satisfied the community would be protected if Tabbaa was not in custody, noting that would be an “absurd outcome” and he had to assess the risk to public safety.

He took into account his age, that it will be his first time in custody, and the onerous Covid conditions imposed in jails.