Men charged with loaded gun possession charges freed on bail

At least three people arrested for being in possession of loaded guns were back on the streets within 24 hours, including Salim Hamze, who was gunned down two weeks after getting bail.

At least three people arrested for being in possession of loaded guns were back on the streets within 24 hours after courts granted them bail despite strongly being opposed by police.

In the latest case, police claim they found 24-year-old Charbel Attie with a loaded .45 colt revolver at an address in Westmead last Thursday.

The next day he appeared in Parramatta Local Court and was granted bail. He was ordered to report to police three times a week and had a 10pm to 5am curfew.

Three days later Attie was rearrested after police alleged the gun they seized was used to threaten a man a week earlier.

“He was charged with an additional three offences, including possessing a loaded firearm in a public place, armed with intent to commit indictable offence, and supply prohibited drug more than indictable and below commercial quantity,” a police spokeswoman said.

“It is alleged the man threatened another man during an altercation on Sunday October 24, 2021 using the firearm which was recovered by police during the Firearm Prohibition Order.”

He appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Monday and was this time refused bail.

Salim Hamze and his father Toufic were shot dead outside their Guildford home. Picture: Facebook

In two cases, the men with alleged associations with the warring factions in the Alameddine-Hamze war — which has claimed at least four lives — were both allegedly found to be carrying guns.

Salim Hamze and Trent Jeske were arrested in separate operations in September and charged with possession of firearms.

Salim Hamze was granted bail and shot dead two weeks later with his father in the driveway of their Guildford home.

Jeske, an alleged associate of the Alameddine clan, was charged with a range of offences including being in possession of a loaded firearm. He was also granted bail.

There is no suggestion he was involved in the murder of Hamze and his father.