Rakeb Raad charged after Walid Assad’s Georges Hall home invaded

An expectant father was found hiding inside a sleeping child’s bedroom by police moments after the brother of slain gangland figure Hamad ’The Executioner’ Assad was targeted during a home invasion in Sydney’s southwest.

A crime scene was established at the Georges Hall property. Picture: Gaye Gerard

An expectant father was found hiding inside a sleeping child’s bedroom by police moments after the brother of slain gangland figure Hamad ‘The Executioner’ Assad was targeted during a home invasion in Sydney’s southwest.

Rakeb Raad, 35, was refused bail at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday over a charge of aggravated entering a dwelling in company with intent to steal following his arrest at a home in Georges Hall on April 3.

Walid “Wally” Assad was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a serious condition after he was allegedly attacked by three men when they burst into his granny flat last week.

It is the second time in two years Assad has been the target of a home invasion – at the same address where his brother was killed in 2016 – following a similar incident back in 2022.

Walid “Wally” Assaad was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a serious condition.

Magistrate Shane McAnulty, who read from agreed police facts, said a Mercedes and Land Cruiser arrived at George Hall “containing a number of people”, including Raad.

“The rear flat was broken into and the occupant of that unit has a security system with cameras which were disconnected from the network which caused them to get a notification and [he] notified police that someone had entered the premises,” Mr McAnulty said.

Mr McAnulty said police found “people moving from the granny flat into the main residence” who wore a combination of black latex gloves or a balaclava and gloves.

“Police entered the main residence … and noticed the accused [Raad] hiding in a child’s bedroom while the child was asleep,” he said.

A crime scene was established at the Georges Hall property. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Mr McAnulty said police officers found car keys belonging to a Mercedes during Raad’s arrest and believed he was “attempting to avoid detection”.

Raad’s lawyer said his client had a “reason to be at the premises” as he knew the people living in the main house.

“The circumstances of the matter are somewhat unusual … the victim was living at the granny flat and my client was found in the main premises,” he said.

Hamad Assaad, 29, was gunned down in the driveway of his Georges Hall home, as he walked to his car to take his son to school.

He said his client was in “lawful attendance at premise” and said the credibility of a witness would be “brought to question” as she didn’t provide a statement to police.

He argued Raad would comply with strict bail conditions due to his “strong community ties” as he had a five-month pregnant wife, six year-old daughter and ran multiple businesses.

The prosecution argued that while the witness didn’t provide a statement, a version of events was verbally obtained where she said three unknown males had entered the home.

They argued the alleged offending had numerous “aggravating factors” and was “done in company with a number of co-accused involved”.

Officers allege told three men forced entry to the granny flat at the rear of a home. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Magistrate McAnulty said the prosecution had a strong case as Raad was found inside the main premises and argued he was “not satisfied” he would appear at future court appearances.

Raad was denied bail and his matter was adjourned to April 23 at Bankstown Local Court.

Raad’s co-accused, Karem El-Osta, 23, has also been charged with inflicting actual bodily harm and aggravated enter dwelling in company intent to steal.

He appeared before Bankstown Court last Thursday where his lawyer made no application for bail.