Ibrahim family secrets exposed as judge rules on Michael‘s voicemail death threat to sister

Court documents have lifted the lid on the unique style of communication between two siblings in one of Sydney’s most intriguing families. See how the Ibrahims express ‘love’ for each other.

The court heard Michael Ibrahim’s expletive-laden voicemail came from a place of love.

An ugly, expletive-laden voicemail sent by convicted drug smuggler Michael Ibrahim to his sister in which he called her a “f — king stupid c — t” and threatened to kill her family came from a place of deep and abiding love, a court has heard.

Ibrahim, the youngest brother of Kings Cross heavyweight John, deported gun runner Sam and Sydney identity Fadi, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted intimidation of Armani Stelio after admitting he left an abusive message on her mobile phone in October 2020 while locked up in Goulburn jail, where he is serving a 25-year sentence for conspiring to import almost two tonnes of illicit drugs.

But his incredible explanation for his behaviour — and Ms Stelio’s insistence that she has nothing to fear from her “loving“ brother — has prompted a judge to take the unusual step of recording a conviction but imposing no further penalty.

The court case, which played out in Goulburn District Court last week, provided a rare insight into the relationship between the famous Ibrahim siblings and why Michael’s claims his actions are simply par-for-the-course in a family that the court heard considers threats, aggression and abuse a part of everyday life.

“We aren’t normal people,” Michael bluntly told a psychologist ahead of his sentencing hearing. “This is how we talk to each other … that’s how we’ve always talked to each other.”

Michael Ibrahim is serving a 25-year sentence for conspiring to import two tonnes of illicit drugs.

Michael Ibrahim’s sister Armani Stelio.

A set of agreed facts tendered to the court said the phone call to Ms Stelio occurred after Michael learned his nephew Michael Haddad had been kidnapped and was being held for ransom, and that he believed Ms Stelio was risking her life trying to find him.

“My immediate reaction was extreme stress and worry for my sister’s safety,” Michael wrote in an apology letter tendered in court. “I was also filled with frustration because my sister was willingly putting herself in harm’s way. I wanted her ex-husband to deal with it.”

Marwan Haddad with his son Michael.

Michael phoned Ms Stelio but the call went to her voicemail.

In a message lasting approximately 20 seconds, Michael tore into his sister and threatened her life amid suspicion she was co-operating with the police and trying to pay the ransom.

“I’m gonna f — king kill you and your kids, you stupid c — t,” he yelled down the phone.

“I’m sick of you embarrassing us over these pieces of shit, trying to f — king pay them too, you f — king little bitch.”

The verbal tirade concluded with Michael telling his sister if what he’d heard was true, she could “get the f — k out of our family”.

Michael was charged by police four days later and an apprehended domestic violence order taken out preventing him from having contact with his sister.

Ms Stelio told the court in a letter of support for her brother that she had never listened to the voicemail, and was unaware of its contents until detectives told her six months later.

“My immediate response … was to laugh, because I honestly thought it was unnecessary to charge him and take out an AVO over this,” Ms Stelio said.

“I repeatedly explained to the detective that I do not feel any fear towards Michael whatsoever. I said that Michael and I love each other unconditionally and he would never do anything to harm me.”

Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim.

Fadi Ibrahim.

Both siblings said the language used in the voicemail was routine in their family.

“I can state that this is honestly the normal way in which us siblings communicate with each other in heated situations,” Ms Stelio said.

“We are, and always have been, a very emotionally invested family and our love often gets translated through anger expressed by intense yelling and swearing.”

Michael said he knew his family’s way of interacting was different to most.

“I understand that it would seem, to the majority of people, very contradictory for me to explain that I said such harsh words in an attempt to protect my sister,” he said.

“Only the people who are close to my family and me know that it is normal that we speak to each other in this unkind way because we express our love through anger.”

Michael told the court he and Ms Stelio had been especially close over the years and that he had supported his sister when her now ex-husband, Marwan Haddad, was incarcerated for five years in the mid 2000s, and through her subsequent divorce and her sons going to live with their father.

“Before their divorce, her ex-husband was like a brother to me,” Michael wrote in his letter.

“I lost all respect for [him] from that point onwards because of how he treated her.”

Hassan "Sam" Ibrahim.

Michael’s lawyer Abbas Soukie.

In explaining his emotional phone call, he told the court he believed his nephews “used” their mother and only contacted her when they wanted something, further compounding his frustration when he learned his sister was putting herself in danger to help her youngest son.

“At the time, I was thinking ‘why would she sacrifice her safety for her children who abandoned her and always take advantage of her’?” Michael wrote.

“I now realise that Armani will always lover her children no matter what they do or how badly they treat her.”

Judge Mark Williams accepted that Ms Stelio held no fears for her safety and that her brother’s behaviour had been borne out of love and concern for his sister, even if it appeared the opposite.

He recorded a conviction against Michael but imposed no further penalty.

In a statement, Michael’s lawyer, Abbas Soukie, said his client was pleased with the result.

“It is unfortunate that taxpayer monies were, in challenging economic times, diverted to pursue this prosecution and even more unfortunate that police saw fit to institute and maintain criminal proceedings which had the effect of regulating communications between two siblings,” he said.

“Mr Ibrahim is pleased with the result. I too am pleased with the result and with the fact that common sense today prevailed.”

MICHAEL IBRAHIM ON …

Ex-brother-in-law, Marwan Haddad:

“He was like a brother to me. I lost all respect for him … because of how he treated her.”

Nephews, Michael and Dylan Haddad:

“They are both in their 20s, trying to be hard c**ts. They ring their mother when they get in trouble and then they drop her … They kicked their mother to the curb. I don’t care what happens to them.”

The voicemail:

“I did yell and scream. My anger and fear clouded my judgment and I was not thinking straight. I was not coping with the thought she was in danger.“

His sister, Armani:

“We’ve shared a very close relationship for as long as I can remember.

I love my sister and would never do anything to put her in harm’s way.”

Growing up:

“It was pretty rough. My mum came to Australia from Lebanon with five children. We were very poor growing up.

Sibling relations:

“I was the youngest. I couldn’t fight back. They were bigger than me and beat me up a lot. Once my sister broke my nose.“

Education:

“I can sort of read, but I have a lot of problems with spelling. That’s why I didn’t go to school, because I was bullied, and I couldn’t learn much.”

Family communication:

“We are not normal people. This is how we talk to each other. We express our love through anger.”