Sydney rapper Ali ‘Ay Huncho’ Younes makes bold court move in wake of fatal gangland shooting

Western Sydney rapper and accused kidnapper Ali Younes has revealed fears for his own safety in the wake of a targeted gangland hit that claimed the life of an underworld associate nearly two weeks ago.

Aussie rap sensation and accused kidnapper Ali Younes fears he could be ambushed in the same type of targeted gangland hit that claimed the life of underworld associate Dawood Zakaria nearly two weeks ago, a court has heard.

Younes, better known by his stage name Ay Huncho, has been on $1.8m bail since last July over allegations he was involved in detaining and bashing a man at a house in Granville in January 2024.

He was required to report to his local police station daily as part of his bail, however the 27-year-old on Thursday made an urgent application to Parramatta Local Court to have the condition scrapped amid ongoing fears for his safety in the wake of the fatal shooting.

Police have previously revealed an unknown gunman opened fire on a white Hilux containing Zakaria, Samimjan Azari and Levi Vitukawalu as it waited at a set of traffic lights on Church St in Granville on May 25.

Western Sydney rapper and accused gangster Ali Younes, aka Ay Huncho, hid his face from view as he left Parramatta Local Court flanked by a bodyguard on Thursday.

Zakaria was fatally shot in the head, while the vehicle’s driver, Sydney solicitor Sylvan Singh, was hit in the arm and leg.

Mr Singh is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Investigators have since said they believe it was Azari - an alleged high-ranking member of the Alameddine crime clan - who was the intended target of the shooting and that he had been set upon after reporting to police as part of his court-ordered bail.

Younes’ barrister, Peter Lange, told the court on Thursday his client - also alleged to be a member of the Alameddine crime clan - feared for his safety if the reporting condition remained in place.

“The application seeks to delete the reporting condition in a physical sense,” he said.

“There’s concern that if he’s fixed to one place [ie a police station], and that becomes known, it’s readily possible for harm to be caused to Mr Younes.”

The proposed change was not opposed by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions or NSW Police.

Magistrate Peter Feather granted the application, instead replacing it with a condition that Younes report by telephone once a week.

Younes is an in-demand performer across Australia. Picture: Facebook

He has more than 150,000 followers on social media. Picture: Instagram

The influential musician, who was flanked by a body guard outside the courthouse, put his hands over his face as he left the building but was otherwise at ease as he was seen talking to his lawyers before entering the courtroom.

As part of his bail, Younes must still comply with a suit of conditions including a ban on communicating with any co-accused and a strict prohibition on drugs and alcohol.

Younes’ manager, Tom Birodi - an Australian rap industry star maker who goes by Lowkee – put up $1.1 million as bail security on top of $700,000 offered by Younes’ mother to secure his release from custody last year.

Younes is yet to enter a plea to his kidnapping charges, with the matter set to return to court later this year.