Ahmed Alameddine charged after Guildford armed robbery at Rawson Rd service station

Alleged knife-wielding bandit Ahmed Alameddine has been released on bail after a court heard the prosecution case was weak and feeble. Here’s the latest from court.

Alleged knife-wielding bandit Ahmed Alameddine – who is accused of stealing $5000 from a western Sydney service station – has been released on bail after a court heard the prosecution case was weak and feeble.

Alameddine, 39, was charged after an armed robbery at the Metro Petroleum service station on Rawson Rd, Guildford, on Sunday just after 4am.

Cumberland police allege Alameddine and another unknown man entered the service station, with Alameddine armed with a flickknife.

He allegedly demanded cash from the 23-year-old male worker before fleeing the scene with the cash and into a black Holden sedan.

Police, with assistance from the South West Metropolitan Operations Support Group, arrested him from a property at Vale St, Woodpark,at 5pm on Monday.

Police also allegedly uncovered an amount of cannabis, cash and electric devices during a search of the premises. He was not charged in relation to the items.

He was taken to Granville police station and was charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon and contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO.

A 39-year-old man was arrested by police as part of an investigation into an armed robbery at a service station. Picture: NSW Police/Supplied

At Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday, lawyer Jessica Tohi successfully applied for bail for Alameddine, who appeared from custody after being discharged from Westmead Hospital.

The court heard Alameddine’s identity was an issue at the service station where he was allegedly masked and captured on CCTV.

“The case is weak,’’ she said.

Ms Tohi said police evidence relied on Alameddine having black Adidas shoes captured on CCTV, some evidence on his mobile phone and three letters on his number plates matching the Holden captured on footage.

She told the court her client lived 7km from the service station so it was “not surprising” he would go there often.

“The strength of the prosecution case is feeble,’’ she said.

Ms Tohi said the CCTV “just falls short of being compelling” and if the matter was to go to trial, Alameddine would have to wait two years in custody.

In opposing bail, the police prosecutor told the court Alameddine would interfere with witnesses after the alleged holdup, which “involved planning and co-ordination”, and the defendant had a history of offending.

The court heard that in 2007, Alameddine was convicted of robbery in company committed the year before. It also heard his criminal history as an adult included dishonesty offences, a serious driving offence, and aggravated break and enter.

But Magistrate Stephan Herridge said the strength of the prosecution case was limited and granted bail to Alameddine, who the court heard also has an autoimmune disease.

Alameddine – who is one of seven children and lives with his parents – must report to Merrylands police station weekly, abstain from alcohol and drugs and not leave home between 6pm and 8am.

Another Alameddine arrested

At the same Woodpark property where Ahmed Alameddine was arrested on Monday afternoon, Adham Alameddine was charged over an unrelated matter – for contravening a prohibition or restriction in an apprehended domestic violence order.

On Wednesday at Parramatta Local Court, he pleaded guilty, was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community correction order, and fined $500.

He must engage in a domestic violence program.

On Tuesday, the court heard he was forbidden from going within 100m of the Woodpark house and was on a 12-month community correction order from April 9 when he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, destroying or damaging property, entering inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse and contravening prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic).

He was convicted and was ordered to pay a $600 fine for driving with an illicit drug present in his blood.

Magistrate David Price told the 34 year old he was bewildered a person in his situation would breach an AVO.

After Alameddine’s bail was refused, he told Mr Price that the courts kept putting “s--t’’ on him.

The magistrate retorted: “Sorry sir but you put this s--t on yourself.’’