Noureddine ‘Tiger’ Laalaa successfully appeals sentence for gun charges
Laalaa, a well known character around Kings Cross, will walk from jail within weeks after successfully appealing the length of his sentence for firearm charges.
Police & Courts
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Sydney underworld figure Noureddine “Tiger” Laalaa will walk from jail within weeks after successfully appealing the sentence originally handed down for his gun charges.
Laalaa, 51, a well-known character around Kings Cross, appeared in Downing Centre District Court last week and was sentenced to a minimum six months behind bars after being charged with possessing an unauthorised pistol.
With time already served, the 51-year-old from Punchbowl will be released on parole on October 22.
Laalaa was originally sentenced to a maximum 20 months jail with a non-parole period of 14 months in the Local Court, but barrister Ian Lloyd, QC, and solicitor Fadi Abbas successfully appealed and Judge Robyn Tupman reduced his minimum sentence to six months.
Ms Tupman also sentenced him to a 12-month community correction order over a charge of not keeping a pistol safely.
Police had alleged the incident occurred in November last year before Laalaa was arrested and charged last April.
He has remained in custody ever since. He was on parole and subject to a firearm prohibition order at the time of his alleged offending.
As part of the correction order, Laalaa must not commit any offence and must appear before a court if called upon to do so at any time.
Last year Laalaa was in court over unrelated charges when his lawyers said he did not have enough money to pay for a monitoring bracelet he was wearing.
In NSW, people wanting bail can offer to wear an anklet in a bid to show to authorities they intend to obey any court-imposed conditions while out in the community.
The court was previously told Laalaa was earning about $1000 a week but that the company supplying the anklet would not allow payment in weekly instalments.
Magistrate Leanne Robinson said at the time the court “was left in a difficult position”.
Despite prosecutors objecting, Ms Robinson allowed Laalaa’s anklet to be removed and instead ordered he must report to Bankstown police station daily.