Tarek Zahed: Comanchero kingpin makes bail bid for alleged murder

A high-ranking Comanchero who famously survived a public shooting at an Auburn gym, has made a bid for bail after being charged over a 2014 murder. Find out why.

A high-ranking member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle group has made a bid for bail on murder and kidnapping charges so he can undergo a “multifaceted treatment program’ as he recovers from an attempt on his life.

Tarek Zahed famously survived an assassination attempt at an Auburn gym in May in which he and his brother, Omar, were peppered with a spray of bullets. Omar did not survive.

Now Tarek and his other brother, Abdul Zahed are facing charges of murder and kidnapping, with police alleging the duo were responsible for the 2014 murder of 29-year-old Yousef Assoum.

Mr Assoum was found by Bankstown Police on Claribel St on December 11, 2014 suffering a gunshot and head wound. He later died in Liverpool Hospital.

Police allege he was kidnapped and detained by Tarek and Abdul Zahed between 11.25am and 12.15pm on that day, was seriously harmed, then murdered by” the men, according to court documents filed in Bankstown Local Court.

Addressing the court on Wednesday, Tarek Zahed’s barrister Peter Lange said his client needed to be bailed to receive treatment for complex medical issues following the assassination attempt, and asked permission for his client to live in Victoria.

“To suggest these complicated procedures could be carried out within the Justice Health system is hopeful,” Mr Lange said. “The absence of such care will have a real, tangible impact on the health and well being of this applicant.”

Comanchero kingpin Tarek Zahed was arrested on August 28, 2022 and charged with the 2014 murder of Youssef Assoum. Picture: NSW Police via NCA NewsWire

Vision of the arrest shows Mr Zahed still has his head in bandages after he was shot ten times during an assassination attempt earlier this year. Picture: NSW Police via NCA NewsWire

The police prosecutor cast doubt on the necessity of the treatment, telling the court the health problems weren’t life threatening.

“Some seem to be that any orthopaedic surgeon can do,” the prosecutor said. “It doesn’t have to be a specialist, or specific surgeon.”

The prosecutor noted while Tarek Zahed was under court orders in NSW to not associate with members of organised criminal groups, he had been freely posing with alleged leaders of the Comanchero and Alameddine crews in August.

He said NSW Police would be relying on a third party to enforce a bail based in Victoria.

When giving his ruling, Magistrate Shane McAnulty told the court he was not satisfied any of the proposed strict bail conditions would mitigate the risk to the community if Zahed was released.

“Accordingly, Mr Zahed will remain bail refused,” Mr McAnulty said.

“[The facts] indicate the accused and his brother had met with the deceased at some point in time. There is a suggestion the deceased died whilst in the company of the accused, at the very least, if not the hands of the accused.

“Mr Lange suggested the Crown case is ‘weak’ though considered other charges which may be appropriate, able to be made out on those facts.

“The prosecutor says there is a strong case in relation to an accessorial role of the accused, at the very least.”

Zahed will return to Bankstown court on November 16.