Father-to-be Omar Haouchar admits turning down crime advance from brother and underworld kingpin Bilal
Omar Haouchar revealed in court his brother Bilal recently contacted him with a surprising offer. His response has drawn the praise of a Sydney judge.
Police & Courts
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The brother of exiled underworld kingpin Bilal Haouchar claims to have turned his back on his old gangster life as he prepares to become father for the first time, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.
Omar Haouchar told a Sydney court last week that he was the “happiest and healthiest” he had ever been — seven months after he was granted parole following a six-year prison sentence for armed robbery and gun charges.
Haouchar further revealed he is so set on maintaining a law-abiding life, he recently turned down advances from his infamous sibling to return to a life of crime.
Judge Sharon Harris described Haouchar as “impressively candid” when questioned about his past and future during a sentencing hearing over a violent brawl inside Lithgow jail in 2021.
The court heard Haouchar pleaded guilty to a charge of affray, admitting his role in the melee, which involved more than a dozen prisoners and lasted 40 minutes before prison guards were able to subdue those responsible.
The brawl resulted in two prisoners being hospitalised — one with stab wounds — and the jail’s governor being hit in the head with a gate.
The agreed facts said Haouchar was not involved in either direct incident, but did take part in the fight itself.
However, Judge Harris agreed to spare Haouchar further jail time despite the overall seriousness of the crime, instead sentencing him to a three-year community correction order.
She praised the 31-year-old’s apparent desire to turn his life around and the positive steps towards rehabilitation he had taken since his release on parole last November.
“Before Mr Haouchar took to the witness box, I had poor views of his prospects of rehabilitation given his history of serious criminal offending, including offending in custody and his tendency to react violently to perceived threats or intimidation,” she said.
“[But his] demeanour and answers to questions from his counsel, the crown prosecutor and the bench, were impressively candid and rang sincere.
“He was frank in admitting that his brother Bilal had attempted to solicit his involvement in criminal activity, an invitation he declined.
“While it can’t be ignored that Mr Haouchar’s positive lifestyle changes are in part the product of parole board scrutiny, he does appear to be motivated to continue on this path and I do find, having heard from him, that his prospects of rehabilitation are at least reasonable.”
Judge Harris noted Haouchar had recently reconnected with his Islamic faith and was due to become a father in the near-future.
“He gave evidence that he is the happiest and healthiest he has ever been,” she said.
The court heard Haouchar, one of seven, had grown up “in a household demonstrating, endorsing and normalising violence”, and that his childhood had been marred by disadvantage.
His older brother Bilal is alleged to be behind a billion-dollar crime international drug empire operating between Sydney and Lebanon.
He was one of the country’s most wanted men until his arrest in Beirut last year.
Police allege another brother, Nedal, was the on-shore facilitator for the syndicate. He is currently awaiting trial on drug charges stemming from his alleged involvement in drug trafficking on behalf of the group.
The court heard Omar Haouchar is currently subject to home detention style conditions as part of his parole and sees a psychologist every fortnight to deal with his anger and addiction issues.
Judge Harris confirmed Haouchar had remained crime-free since his release on parole, despite a police raid on his Drummoyne property in April this year leaving him with rib and facial fractures.
“He is not an unintelligent man and appears to have the capacity to resist invitations to return to crime,” she said,
“He is presently running a small legitimate business.”
Haouchar’s community corrections order will remain in place until 2027, a year after the expiry of his parole.
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