John Ibrahim target of botched assassination attempt: court

Colourful Sydney identity John Ibrahim can be revealed as the intended target of a botched murder attempt in which two alleged would-be assassins are accused of pointing a loaded gun at the wrong person.

Police are investigating whether an alleged assassination attempt on colourful Sydney identity John Ibrahim is the result of a historical beef against his brother Michael, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

John’s identity as the target of the failed alleged hit at his Dover Heights home in July can be revealed for the first time after a court on Thursday lifted a gag order over John’s identity.

The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions did not push to keep the non-publication order in place after John refused to make a statement to police about the incident.

John is not accused of any wrongdoing.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal one line of inquiry police are looking into is whether the incident may have had something to do with animosity against one of his brothers, Michael, who was jailed for more than two decades in 2020 over his role in importing illegal drugs and tobacco into Australia.

Two men, Yousif Zrayka and Siaosi Maeakafa Tupoulahi, have been charged with conspiracy to murder and firearms offences amid allegations they launched a “very amateurish” plan to kill John.

Murder target … John Ibrahim. Picture: David Swift

Michael Ibrahim.

However, it is alleged the pair’s execution of the plan was far from smooth, culminating in them allegedly pointing a loaded gun at the wrong car.

A court has previously heard police were called to a street in Sydney’s eastern suburbs just before 8.30am on July 25 after a balaclava-clad man was seen carrying a pistol.

Two men in balaclavas who were arrested after being spotted on George St in Dover Heights near the home of John Ibrahim. Picture: Channel 7

Police making a dramatic arrest. Picture: Channel 7

Police make an arrest near the home of John Ibrahim. Picture: Channel 7

Police allege Tupoulahi, 24, had covered his head and was wearing all black when he approached a car similar to that driven by John and pointed the loaded gun at the person in the driver’s seat.

The court heard Tupoulahi allegedly held a gun at the driver, who raised their hands in supplication, for ten seconds.

The 24-year-old then allegedly got into a stolen rental car driven by Zrayka, 20, before the pair fled the scene.

Alarmed residents called police and a chase ensued where Zrayka allegedly reached speeds of 45km/hr in peak hour traffic along Old South Head Road.

Detectives leave Ibrahim’s home after the incident. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The 20-year-old was arrested when the grey Cupra Leon finally came to a stop on the main road.

Tupoulahi allegedly wrestled with two officers who attempted to detain him and managed to escape, but was captured half an hour later after being taken down by a police taser.

It is alleged police discovered loaded firearms, fuel and rubber gloves inside the stolen vehicle.

The court heard the serial numbers had been filed off the guns and the car had cloned number plates on it.

The Telegraph understands evidence found on a phone seized from one of the accused men led police to believe John was the intended target of the hit.

Zrayka was charged with conspiracy to murder, multiple firearm offences, intimidation, taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, and a police pursuit.

Tupoulahi was charged with conspiracy to murder, multiple firearm offences, intimidation, being carried in a car taken without the owner’s consent, not wearing a seatbelt, and assaulting and hindering police.

The pair was remanded in custody at the time, and neither were successful in their bid for bail before a court a few days later.

Their lawyer, Ertunç Özen SC, had proposed they both be granted bail under strict conditions including electronic monitoring, hefty sureties, and a ban on entering the area where the alleged incident occurred.

He argued his clients’ alleged actions were “amateurish” and there was no evidence that either man had been the mastermind behind the alleged assassination attempt.

In opposing bail, Crown prosecutor Adrian Walsh told the court Zrayka and Tupoulahi had been “caught red handed” and the case against them was a strong one.

“It’s a well planned but poorly executed attempt,” he said.

He asserted the “nature and seriousness of the offences” would give the magistrate “serious concerns” about releasing the men on bail.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund refused bail, finding the men had not sufficiently demonstrated why their detention was unjustified given the “seriousness of the offending”.

In court on Thursday, Magistrate Daniel Covington confirmed the next court date of October 22 and formally lifted the suppression order over John Ibrahim’s name after his lawyer, Abbas Soukie, said the former Kings Cross nightclub owner no longer sought to keep his identity a secret.

For the last five years, John has embarked on a high profile career as a property developer and has also tried his hand at TV, working as a producer on the Paramount series, Last King of the Cross, based on his life.