Wanted man Mostafa Baluch claimed he needed to ‘care’ for his elderly parents to get bail

Alleged drug kingpin Mostafa Baluch said he needed bail to care for his elderly parents – then he vanished, sparking an international manhunt.

Alleged drug importer Mostafa Baluch claimed he needed to care for his elderly parents as an excuse to get bail, before vanishing and costing them the $4 million home they had put up as surety.

A transcript of the controversial bail hearing at Central Local Court in late-October that saw Baluch allowed to walk free has been obtained by The Daily Telegraph and gives insight into what led Magistrate Michael Crompton to make his decision.

Baluch’s barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC’s main argument for Magistrate Crompton to release her client from jail was that it would allow him to better prepare a defence to the criminal charges, on which he faces a life sentence if convicted.

Mostafa Baluch’s legal team claimed he needed to “care” for his parents in his controversially successful bid for bail. Picture: Facebook

But she also claimed the 33-year-old was a “carer” for his parents and told how they had put up their home on Barrenjoey Rd at Newport as surety, although sources said Baluch is thought to have bought it for them in the first place.

His legal team claimed the $4 million surety mitigated any chance of him being an “unacceptable risk” of showing up to court.

However that is exactly what happened after Baluch cut off his ankle tracking bracelet and vanished about 10.45pm last Monday, sparking a major manhunt involving international and interstate authorities.

But after cutting off his ankle tracking bracelet and vanishing, Baluch cost his parents their $4 million home they put up for. Picture: Supplied

Baluch’s legal team said having spent all but three weeks in lockdown since his arrest on June 3 there had been “an enormous impact on visits in custody, including legal visits”.

The court heard inside the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre where he was being detained on remand it was “impossible for the applicant (Baluch) to access proper legal advice”.

The alleged drug kingpin had been unable to access a laptop and had to share a communal computer, resulting in him mostly “handwriting notes”.

Baluch also wanted to be released so he could look after his elderly and unwell parents, the court heard.

“In terms of bail concerns, the applicant has a history of appearing on court dates, and in terms of flight concern, he’s never failed to appear at court,” Ms Bashir said.

“Then there’s a further reason … the health of the parents.”

Magistrate Crompton said claims that Baluch – who has five siblings – needed to be released to care for his parents was “not particularly compelling”.

A major manhunt is now underway involving interstate and international authorities. Baluch is pictured checking in for bail last Monday. Picture: NSW Police

In opposing bail, prosecutor Conor McCraith foreshadowed the lack of regard Baluch would pay to putting up his $4 million surety.

“The loss of the surety offered by the accused would not be a deterrent from absconding to avoid a lengthy period of imprisonment,” Mr McCraith said.

But Ms Bashir countered this claim by telling the court Baluch did not have a passport and “the fact that it is his parent‘s home … is in our submission a very significant deterrent”.

With the large surety, requirement to report to police daily and the condition of an ankle tracking bracelet, Magistrate Crompton said he was “satisfied” he could grant Baluch bail.

Baluch had been living the high life before his arrest in June including buying a white Bentley. Picture: Supplied

Police investigating his vanishing act last week released a photograph of a black Range Rover in which they believe Baluch may have been hiding in the back seat.

Police sources said they had received help from the public to identify the two men in the front seats of the car and investigations are ongoing, with pressure on family, friends and associates who may know of his whereabouts to be “unceasing”.