Police allege brothers Vincent and Lee Lambroglou played critical role in Rami Iskander murder: court

Police allege the slaying of underworld figure Rami Iskander may not have happened, had Vincent and Lee Lambroglou not been integral to the plan, court hears.

The gangland execution of underworld figure Rami Iskander may not have happened if not for the alleged input of Sydney brothers Vince and Lee Lambroglou, a court has heard.

Iskander, 23, the nephew of slain organised crime heavyweight Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad, was gunned down on the driveway of his Belmore home in the early hours of May 14 this year in what police allege was the latest act in an ongoing and escalating war between Sydney’s rival gangs.

Detectives arrested Vincent, 42, at a property at Oatley in October and charged him with accessory after the fact to murder, accessory before the fact to murder, participate criminal group and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

Police will allege Vincent organised and prepared the getaway cars used by the gunmen who shot Iskander dead.

He remains before the courts.

Rami Iskander, pictured, was shot dead in the driveway of a home in Belmore in may this year. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, investigators arrested Lee, 29, on a Sydney CBD street last week. He was taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with accessory after the fact of murder and concealing a serious indictable offence.

Police allege Lee provided a co-accused with a set of keys to a private underground carpark in the aftermath of the shooting, allowing for one of the getaway vehicles to be stored in the garage.

He was remanded in custody at the time but faced Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday seeking bail.

Police opposed the application, with prosecutor Sergeant Kerry-Anne McKinnon arguing there was a risk Lee could interfere with Crown witnesses, one of whom is his own mother, if released from custody.

She told the court police will allege Lee was caught on listening devices and intercepted phone calls speaking about Iskander’s murder in a way that allegedly proved he had knowledge of it at the time he handed over the keys.

“The actual involvement of this applicant is very transparent, not only in intercepted phone calls of the applicant himself, but also intercepted phone calls of a co-accused, his brother,” she said.

Iskander was the nephew of slain gangster Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad, who was shot dead outside a home in Greenacre in April this year.

“We say without the input of this applicant and his brother, the murder itself may not have eventuated – that’s the extent we say his involvement is, with respect to the ultimate murder.”

However, defence barrister Peter Lange rejected suggestions his client was an integral part of the murder, arguing the case against him was weak.

He claimed Lee had no incentive to interfere with witnesses and if released on bail, would agree not to contact his brother or sister-in-law Maria, who has been charged with dealing with proceeds of crime after police allegedly found $500,000 at the family home.

Magistrate Greenwood refused to release Lee from custody on account of the seriousness of the allegations.

“On the material provided to me, it’s an extremely sophisticated [murder],” she said.

“The facts reveal organised crime gang warfare and there’s an allegation of retribution behind this murder.

“Given the telephone intercepts, in my view the case against you is strong.”

The case will return to court in February.