Murder charges against Tarek Zahed and brother Abdul dropped over death of Youssef Assoum

One of Australia’s most well-recognised bikies, ex-Comanchero sergeant-at-arms, Tarek Zahed, could be released from prison within the month after murder charges against him were dropped.

One of Australia’s most high-profile bikies could be released from custody on parole as early as next month after prosecutors sensationally dropped murder charges against him on the morning of his trial.

Senior Comanchero bikie boss and gangland shooting survivor Tarek Zahed, along with his brother Abdul, had been due to face the NSW Supreme Court this week for an estimated five-week murder trial over their alleged involvement in the ambush-style killing of underworld figure Youssef Assoum, who was stabbed and shot inside his car in the early hours of December 11, 2014.

However, the brothers pleaded guilty to lesser charges after their respective lawyers struck last-minute plea deals with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Tarek, once dubbed the “Balenciaga bikie” thanks to his penchant for designer clothing, pleaded guilty to a charge of hindering the discovery of evidence, admitting he ordered an associate to destroy Mr Assoum’s Volkswagen Touareg in the days after the fatal shooting.

Abdul pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to murder,

with court documents detailing how he lied to police when questioned about what had happened to Mr Assoum, and aided the killers – whose identities remain unknown to authorities – to avoid arrest.

Youssef Assoum was murdered in 2014. Picture Instagram

Comanchero bikie boss Tarek and younger brother Abdul Zahed.

While the charge against Tarek carries a maximum sentence of seven years jail, his highly experienced legal team is expected to call for his immediate release on parole at a sentencing hearing in March, claiming the 18 months he has spent in custody since his arrest in August 2022 is punishment enough.

Such a submission would likely be strengthened by repeated claims from Tarek’s lawyers over the past 18 months that there was “no case” against their client on the murder charge.

Comanchero boss Tarek Zahed.

A mug shot of Tarek Zahed showing the injuries he sustained during the Auburn gym shooting, where his brother was killed.

Instead, an agreed statement of facts tendered to the court reveals Tarek believed Abdul was somehow involved in Mr Assoum’s murder and that his actions in organising for the Volkswagen to be destroyed were aimed at protecting his little brother.

The court heard Mr Assoum arrived at Tarek’s house shortly before 10.30pm on December 10, spoke to Abdul in the garage, then left.

Half an hour later, Mr Assoum spoke with Abdul again, this time on the phone.

Half an hour after that, Mr Assoum drove to Bunker Road in Yagoona, where he was ambushed inside his Volkswagen.

Youssef Assoum was killed in 2014.

The assailants, who were known to Abdul, tied Mr Assoum up, bashed him and stabbed him before shooting him in the leg.

One of the attackers then drove Abdul and Mr Assoum to Bankstown Hospital, where they dumped an unconscious Mr Assoum near the entrance to the emergency ward.

Court documents reveal Abdul had tied his T-shirt around Mr Assoum’s leg and began yelling at staff “do something, do something, it’s my brother, it’s my brother, help me, help me”.

Mr Assoum could not be revived and was declared dead a short time later.

Abdul later gave a statement to police through his lawyers saying unknown persons had hit him on the back of the head and knocked him out and when he regained consciousness, Mr Assoum was lying next to him, bleeding out.

Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed (right) pictured with his brother Omar who was killed in 2022.

However, secretly recorded conversations between Tarek and Abdul captured in the days after Mr Assoum’s death reveal the pair orchestrated the account to cover up Abdul’s involvement in the crime.

At one stage, Abdul was overheard telling his brother “I swear to God, I’ll do 20 years as long as I know you are living happy”, to which Tarek responded “I’m happy”.

Meanwhile, court documents said Tarek enlisted an associate to destroy Mr Assoum’s bloodstained car in a bid to get rid of evidence in order to protect his brother.

The associate paid $2,000 for a third man, Triantafilos Vlangos, to burn the car, however authorities detected the fire and were able to extinguish it before the vehicle became engulfed in flames.

Tarek’s fingerprints were found inside the vehicle, as was a bloodstained bullet and gunshot residue.

Tarek, who survived a shooting outside an Auburn gym in May 2022 which claimed the life of his other brother Omar, is expected to seek specialist treatment for facial and eye injuries sustained in the attack when he is released from custody.

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