Emad Sleiman: Convicted murderer allegedly helped orchestrate kidnapping, failed tobacco robbery

A convicted killer, accused of being one of the main planners behind a “highly orchestrated” kidnapping and botched tobacco theft, has been denied bail.

A convicted killer, accused of being one of the main planners behind a “highly orchestrated” kidnapping and botched tobacco theft, has been denied bail.

Emad Sleiman, who spent almost two decades behind bars for the 1997 murder of rising sports star Jason Burton, fronted Parramatta Bail Court on Wednesday.

The 47-year-old has been charged with knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, being an accessory before the fact to kidnapping in company, and being an accessory before the fact to aggravated break and enter with intent.

Sleiman’s arrest follows NSW Police launching Strike Force Sheringham last September to investigate illicit tobacco trade and theft.

The Daily Telegraph was there when police carried out dawn raids on Tuesday across Merrylands, Greystanes, Ramsgate Beach and Five Dock, with seven men arrested and 1.4 tonnes of tobacco and cigarettes seized.

Emad Sleiman previously pictured outside the Downing Centre courts.

On Wednesday, a police prosecutor told the court Sleiman was “one of the two main orchestrators or planners” of an alleged kidnapping in early January, when a “bunch of people” were captured on CCTV using boltcutters to break into a Condell Park warehouse.

The court heard the group then allegedly cut the CCTV footage to “lure” the alleged kidnapping victims into the warehouse.

Samimjan Azari during his arrest.

The prosecutor alleged the men were then“ambushed by the offenders (who were) armed with weapons”.

He said the alleged offenders “taped up (and) tortured” the men while holding them hostage.

The prosecutor said the warehouse was allegedly ransacked but police attended and nothing had been stolen.

While acknowledging Sleiman wasn’t physically present, the prosecutor alleged he was “one of the two main orchestrators or planners”.

Samimjan Azari previously leaving the Downing Centre. Picture: Supplied.

Sleiman’s barrister, Peter Lange, highlighted how the prosecution relied upon communications to determine whether Sleiman knew the men were going to be kidnapped.

He said while his client had served time in jail for murder, further offences on his record were “few and far between” and strict home detention conditions would help his wife manage the medical conditions of family members.

Magistrate Anthony Spence ultimately refused bail, finding there was “too much” of an unacceptable risk for Sleiman to be released into the community.

Mr Lange also represented Samimjan Azari, 26, who was arrested during the raids over a separate alleged incident uncovered by the strike force.

The Daily Telegraph previously reported that alleged incident was the attempted robbery of a tobacco delivery truck on Guildford Rd in late November last year.

Azari has been charged with robbery in company.

Magistrate Peter Feather found evidence against him was neither strong or weak, and he was ultimately granted strict bail that requires him to report to police daily.

Sleiman and Azari are due back in court on May 22.

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