Fugitive Masood Zakaria stays in contact with Alameddine clan, court hears

The second highest ranking member of the Alameddine family Masood Zakaria is still in contact with his Sydney network even though he fled to Turkey, a court has heard.

The state’s most wanted man Masood Zakaria, who is believed to have fled the country to Turkey, is still in contact with members of the Alameddine clan via electronic messaging, police say.

Zakaria — the second highest ranking member of the Alameddine network, a court heard — disappeared in December, just before NSW Police could arrest him over the alleged attempted murder of rival Ibrahem Hamze at North Sydney last August.

He fled to Turkey via Malaysia, after it is believed he jumped on a trawler in Western Australia.

But during a court appearance for his associate, and alleged leader of KVT gang Joseph Vokai, a lead investigator on the case said while Masood isn’t in Australia, he’s still keeping in touch with the clan back home.

Constable Lauren Bennett said she “would not accept” that he did not have access to individuals in Australia, saying he was “most definitely” communicating with them via electronic means.

Masood Zakaria fled Australia for Turkey. Picture: John Grainger

She also told the court police had strong insight into the workings of the group. Surveillance had allegedly captured Zakaria making “preparatory plans” to flee the jurisdiction with Vokai before he was arrested — and that police had their eyes on him for a significant period of time.

“We had a number of surveillance devices in play, with electronic evidence they both left the jurisdiction,” she said.

“They had conversations about it and fled the jurisdiction, and we were aware it was unlikely we would find them.”

Vokai handed himself in two weeks after police arrived at his home to arrest him, while Zakaria remained on the run.

Vokai is facing charged with two counts of knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, contributing to criminal activity, dealing with proceeds of crime and conspiracy to commit murder, he is yet to enter pleas to the charges.

Prosecutors also told the court Zakaria and Vokai had allegedly been captured on surveillance talking about “taking care” of other alleged members of the clan and ensuring they all had “good” legal representation.

“Taking care of their people, taking care of their boys, making sure they get a QC for bail applications, and there’s no real evidence of where that money comes from,” the prosecutor told the court.

He said there were various conversations caught on surveillance, where Vokai and Zakaria also allegedly discussed money and drugs, on one occasion talking about “stealing money from drug dealers”.

The court also heard that less than two weeks before he vanished, Zakaria and Vokai allegedly travelled to his the now-fugitive’s father’s home in Westmead, where they picked up a large sum of cash.

Refusing Vokai’s application for bail, Justice Robert Beech-Jones said the ongoing dispute between the Alameddine and Hamzy clans was “violent” and that it was clear he was the right-hand man of Zakaria.