Mrwan Sayah: Riverwood man convicted for cannabis cultivation, drug supply

A southwest Sydney man was told court orders would keep him “on a leash” after police busted him with 1.3kg of cannabis and tens of thousands of dollars in his home. See the changes to his life that kept him out of prison.

A Riverwood man has narrowly escaped jail time after he was sentenced for a laundry list of drug charges after being arrested in a police raid – where authorities discovered 1.3kg of cannabis and $41k in his home.

Mrwan Sayah, 30, of Riverwood, was sentenced for cultivating a cannabis plant, drug possession, recklessly dealing with the proceeds of a crime, and three counts of prohibited drug supply, at Bankstown Local Court on Friday.

According to facts tendered to Bankstown Local Court, the matter began when Sayah was targeted by a police operation to investigate ongoing drug manufacture and drug supply in the Bankstown area known as Strike Force Polar.

About 7am on Friday, October 15, investigators executed two search warrants, including at Sayah’s Riverwood home and another home in Georges Hall.

Upon allegedly seizing 1.3kg of cannabis, $41,118 in cash, as well as small amounts of buprenorphine and cannabis oil at the home, Sayah was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station.

Mrwan Sayah was arrested as part of a police operation to investigate ongoing drug manufacture and drug supply in the Bankstown area known as Strike Force Polar. Photo: NSW Police

During the operation Sayah spontaneously told police the cannabis plant was “mine for personal use.”

Police alleged the $41,118 was suspected of being stolen.

Sayah was initially denied bail by Magistrate Daniel Covington at Bankstown Local Court on October 17, 2021, however bail under strict conditions was later granted.

Sayah’s lawyer, Fadi Abbas, made the case his client’s strong ties in the community and young age should be considered when sentencing the Riverwood man.

Mrwan Sayah was arrested in October 2021. Photo: NSW Police

The 30-year-old had married only weeks before his arrest, Mr Abbas said, and most of his days as a married man had unfolded while he was on remand.

His partner appeared at court to support him.

The court heard Sayah had stuck to the conditions of his strict bail, had not committed any further offences, and was now working the morning shift at his dad’s Lebanese restaurant.

Magistrate Glenn Walsh told court he must take into account that, since his arrest, Sayah had entered various pleas, which disqualified him from the discount afforded to those who enter a guilty plea at the earliest possible time.

However he agreed the young man had reintegrated himself into society and said he should be given a chance to prove himself as a partner.

“He’s married now. He’s got a job,” Magistrate Walsh said, and a lengthy community corrections order would “keep him on a leash.”

The magistrate warned Salah not to take this chance for granted.

“I’m trusting you and therefore I have your word,” Magistrate Walsh said, before warning him another charge would almost certainly lead to jail time.

“If you break my trust I will not trust you again.”

Magistrate Walsh convicted Sayah and sentenced him for drug possession and recklessly dealing with the proceeds of a crime to a two-year community corrections order under the conditions he does not commit any further offences and appear at court if called.