Company quizzed in court over ankle monitoring device used by fugitive Mostafa Baluch

A Sydney man accused of being an accessory to the alleged murder of ‘Brownie’ Ahmad has sought release on bail – and wants the same electronic ankle bracelet as Mostafa Baluch.

The manager of the company which tracked Mostafa Baluch has revealed new details about his ankle monitoring in court. Picture: Richard Dobson

A Sydney man allegedly involved in the murder of underworld hard man Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad has applied to the NSW Supreme Court to be released on conditional bail – and plans to use the same company to monitor his 24/7 ankle bracelet as accused drug lord and famed escapee, Mostafa Baluch.

Jason Laria was arrested in July and charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder amid allegations he was involved in the aftermath of Ahmad’s shooting death outside a Greenacre home on April 27.

Laria is also facing charges of commercial drug supply and directing a criminal group after police allegedly discovered $22 million worth of ice and $200,000 in cash during a raid at the home of his co-accused, Frank Delcol.

Delcol has also been charged with accessory before the fact to murder over Ahmad’s death.

Police will allege Delcol told arresting officers he was storing the drugs on Laria’s behalf and it was Laria who directed him on a day-to-day basis.

Jason Laria is charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad.

Ahmad was shot dead outside a Greenacre home in April.

However, in court on Wednesday, defence lawyer Avni Djemal said Laria was not the senior crime figure police had made him out to be and was simply the syndicate’s low-level runner, who dealt in “grams and half grams” of drugs.

As part of his bid for bail, the court heard Laria had agreed to wear an electronic ankle monitor and had approached Attenti Australasia, a company which supplies, installs and tracks the devices at the cost of the wearer.

Mahmoud ‘Brownie’ Ahmad’s funeral was held at Lakemba Mosque, followed by a burial at Rookwood. Picture: David Swift

The court heard the same company was used by alleged cocaine importer Mostafa Baluch, who allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and tried to flee the state just days after being granted bail in October 2021.

The millionaire restaurateur was discovered hiding in a truck crossing the Queensland border a month later.

Attenti business development manager Philipp Schluter was called to give evidence in Laria’s bail application and told the court his company was currently monitoring about 45 people wearing electronic devices.

He said since Attenti was founded in 2008, he could count “on one hand” the number of people who had successfully tampered with the devices – Baluch among them.

Mostafa Baluch – alleged cocaine importer and fugitive.

Baluch is accused of cutting off his ankle monitor; the same model Jason Laria wants affixed. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

The court heard the company’s monitoring system received an immediate alert that Baluch had tampered with his ankle monitor, prompting the employee on duty to attempt to contact Baluch by phone.

When he didn’t answer, the employer tried to call Baluch’s parents, then notified police.

“Do you recall how long after they attempted to contact [Baluch] that police were informed?” Mr Schluter was asked in court.

“It was a few minutes, you Honour,” he replied, also confirming that Attenti was able to give investigating police a log of all Baluch’s movements just before the tampering occurred.

Judge Helen Wilson reserved her decision on Laria’s bail application and will deliver judgment next Thursday.