Sydney sparky Ahmad Assoum granted bail over prison drug supply allegation

Ahmad Assoum lobbed six balls into Bathurst jail’s exercise yard. CCTV allegedly revealed a 50% success rate: not all of them reached what police say was the intended target, a court has heard.

Ahmad Assoum, left, was allegedly seen on CCTV footage using a dog ball thrower to lob two orange coloured “Chuckit” branded tennis balls into the Bathurst correctional centre’s F Wing. Pictures: Supplied

A Sydney tradie allegedly caught on camera pegging drug-filled tennis balls into the grounds of Bathurst jail only had a success rate of 50 per cent, a court has heard.

Police allege Ahmad Assoum, a 23-year-old apprentice electrician who lives with his parents in Granville, attended an industrial complex bordering the northeastern side of the jail three times in January this year driving rental cars.

On each occasion, he was allegedly seen on CCTV footage using a dog ball thrower to lob two orange coloured “Chuckit” branded tennis balls into the correctional centre’s F Wing.

Documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court during Assoum’s recent bid for bail state of the six balls in total that were thrown, only three successfully made it into the wing’s exercise yard.

Two were immediately picked up by unknown inmates, while the third ball was seized by prison staff.

Assoum is alleged to have thrown drug-filled tennis balls into the grounds of the historic Bathurst Correctional Centre (pictured).

The remaining balls landed short of what police claim was their intended destination, ending up in a designated ‘sterile’ zone between the outer perimeter fence and the yard fence.

The court heard they were picked up by prison officials, who allegedly discovered the balls contained a combined 132 buprenorphine strips and 6.6 grams of methylamphetamine.

It is not known what was inside the two balls taken by the inmates.

The court heard Assoum was stopped by police on January 31 as he exited the industrial complex.

During a search of his vehicle, officers discovered three mobile phones, car rental records and methylamphetamine tablets.

The dog ball thrower was found in bushland next to the prison walls, court documents state.

Assoum was arrested, charged with four counts of supplying a prohibited drug and remanded in custody.

In court last month, prosecutors said the case against Assoum was a strong one but conceded stringent conditions could be put in place to allow for his release into the community on bail.

Justice Hament Dhanji agreed and ordered that Assoum be released from custody immediately.

As part of his bail conditions, Assoum must report to police daily, work with his brother in the construction industry and must not enter the Bathurst area unless to attend court.

Assoum’s family also agreed to put up a $20,000 surety to ensure he complies with his bail.

The case will return to court in May.

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