Alleged underworld figure’s illegal ammo fine ‘an insult to police’

Hassan Hallak was arrested in raids but released on bail with a fine worth a little less than a slap on the wrist.

An alleged underworld figure linked to the Ahmad crime network was released on bail by a magistrate despite the objections of Raptor Squad police – and then fined just $600 for illegally carrying ammunition which “appeared to match” a loaded gun, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Police Minister Paul Toole slammed the sentence, saying it was “an insult to our police and the community they are trying to protect’’.

Hassan Hallak, 46, was arrested in raids by the Raptor Squad along with his mate Yasser Ahmad, 44, whose brother “Brownie” Ahmad and stepson Rami Iskander have both been gunned down in Sydney’s recent gangland wars.

Police are furious that Hallak was fined so little while shadow minister for police and counter-terrorism Walt Secord said the courts were letting police and the public down.

The charge Hallak pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of a $5500 fine.

Hassan Hallak on Tuesday outside the Greenacre home he shares with his mother. Picture: John Grainger

Yasser Ahmad was refused bail charged with possessing a weapon while subject to a Firearms Prohibition Order.

“If he (Hallak) was driving an unregistered and uninsured car he would have got double the penalty,” a senior police source said.

“Bullets go in guns.”

Hallak and Yasser Ahmad were arrested at Ahmad’s Greenacre home late on May 21 as part of the Task Force Erebus raids targeting the spate of recent murders and serious organised gang activity, according to court documents. Neither is suspected of killing anyone.

The 16 rounds of ammunition found in resealable bags in Hallak’s right jacket pocket as he tried to evade police “appeared to match” the ammunition loaded in the magazine of a Beretta 9mm pistol allegedly found hidden in a cavity in the roof of a garage attached to Ahmad’s home, the police statement of facts tendered to two courts said.

Police will allege in court another Ahmad associate, Raymartin Faileaso, threw the pistol on the roof when police arrived at the Greenacre property. The 29-year-old was charged on Tuesday with possessing an unauthorised firearm and acquiring a pistol subject to a firearms prohibition order.

When the two men appeared at Parramatta Bail Court the next morning, a Sunday, police told the court in a statement of facts that they “strongly opposed bail for (Hallak) due to his associations with the Ahmad organised crime family”.

“Police believe the accused is a risk to the community if given bail as it is apparent the accused is involved in the Ahmad criminal network,” the statement of facts said.

Yasser is the brother of gangster Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad, who was shot dead in April.

But Hallak, described as a casual cement renderer earning $300 a week who lives with his mum at Greenacre “paying her rent when he can”, was granted bail by acting magistrate Michael Price with the only condition that he live at the Greenacre address.

Three days later, on May 25, he appeared at Bankstown Local Court where he pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition without a licence and possessing 5 grams of cannabis which was hidden in the left cuff of his pants.

He told police he had found the ammunition on the ground and wanted to sell it.

Magistrate Shane McAnulty fined Hallak $600.

At Parramatta Bail Court, Ahmad was refused bail charged with possessing or acquiring a weapon despite being subject to a Firearms Prohibition Order. The raid on his Greenacre home was performed under the order.

It was executed “as a result Task Force Erebus formed to disrupt the activities for any retribution attacks on the recent public place shootings and murders between feuding crime networks,” the facts sheet tendered to both courts stated.

Yasser’s stepson Rami Iskander was shot dead in May as part of the revenge gang killings in Sydney.

Notorious gangland figure “Brownie” Ahmad, 39, was killed in Greenacre in April after gunmen lay in wait for him.

Iskander was shot dead outside his Belmore home in May, the 13th gangland killing on Sydney’s streets over the past 18 months.

Police Minister Toole said: “Our police do an incredible job … the last thing police and the community need is for these gang members to receive a slap on the wrist for their crimes and be back on our streets.’’

Shadow Minister Police and Counter Terrorism Walt Secord said he shared the frustrations of police.

“Cops are throwing up their hands in frustration, saying: ‘why in the hell do we work so hard … and then see these mongrels crawl out of the courts and back onto the streets?’” Mr Secord said on Tuesday.

Hassan Hallak was granted bail, despite the objections of police. Picture: John Grainger

“I share the frustration of hardworking and dedicated police who have spent weeks and months gathering evidence and monitoring dangerous criminals, only to see them fined a few hundred bucks and be back on the streets hours later.

“This is all part of this government’s revolving door for serious criminals.

“A bloke was fined barely more than a week’s rent – for illegally carrying bullets that were apparently used in a loaded gun.

“What kind of deterrence is this?”

He called on the government to increase the penalties and refuse bail to criminals charged with serious sexual, firearms and other violent offences.