Brother-in-law of gang leader Farhad Qaumi charged with possession of shotgun, pistol, steroids
The brother-in-law of Brothers 4 Life gang boss Farhad Qaumi had shooting targets brought into his bail hearing todayto prove bullet cartridges allegedly seized from his home were from a family holiday. Alaa Abouhalka told reporters to “f**k off” when approached for comment upon his release on bail.
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The brother-in-law of Brothers for Life gang boss Farhad Qaumi had shooting targets brought into his bail hearing on Saturday to prove that bullet cartridges allegedly seized from his home were leftovers from a family holiday.
Alaa Abouhalka appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday charged with illegal possession of a shotgun, ammunition, a replica pistol, and a cache of other items during a raid on his Villawood home on Friday.
His wife and an unidentified man sat in the courtroom clutching cardboard shooting targets perforated with bullet holes as Abouhalka, appearing via video link from Amber Laurel Correctional Centre, waited for his matter to be heard.
Officers from the Criminal Groups Squad launched a surprise raid on his home after stopping his car on Proctor Pde on Friday morning and serving him with a Firearms Prohibition Order.
Such orders allow law enforcement to stop cars and search houses at any time without warning, and have led to a large number of firearm seizures across NSW. They have also been credited with driving down the number of public-place shootings.
Police said in a statement they had stopped Abouhalka’s car as part of “ongoing inquiries” — they did not release further details about their investigation.
In the subsequent raid they allegedly recovered a dismantled Beretta-branded shotgun, a replica pistol, an extendable baton, tactical knives, capsicum spray, steroids and $6500 cash.
The NSW Police Force released photographs showing a dismantled shotgun stored in a purpose-built carry case, replete with spare parts and compartments for extra cartridges.
Websites that retail in similar Beretta-branded shotguns indicate the weapon costs about $5000.
Abouhalka appeared in court on six charges, included possessing an unauthorised firearm, not storing a firearm safely, and possessing ammunition without a licence.
In arguing for his bail, the 34-year-old’s lawyer told Magistrate Mal MacPherson that the spent cartridges were from a family holiday, and that his wife had brought the targets to court as proof of the vacation activity.
He was granted conditional bail on the proviso he report daily to police and abide by a curfew. He was instructed not to leave his home unless in the company of his wife for the purpose of reporting to police, or for the purpose of attending legal and medical appointments.
He was ordered to reappear at Bankstown Local Court on September 26.
When released from Amber Laurel Correction Centre on Saturday afternoon, Abouhalka said “f**k off” when approached for comment. He then kissed a woman believed to be his wife.
Abouhalka’s brother-in-law, Qaumi, is currently serving more than 60 years in prison for offences including murder, manslaughter, and a slew of others relating to drug supply and co-ordinating the criminal group Brothers For Life, or BFL as it was known.
Conceived in prison, the gang’s founder, Bassam Hamzy, recruited Qaumi to BFL during 2010 while the pair languished inside Goulburn’s Supermax jail complex, at one time the most secure facility in the southern hemisphere.
There’s no suggestion Abouhalka has been a member of the gang.
Qaumi had been on remand awaiting trial for the unsolved murder of an underworld figure, Cengiz Sarac. When the charge was dropped due to an administrative error, Qaumi walked out of prison and, with Hamzy’s blessing and $10,000 in seed funding, started his own BFL chapter in Blacktown, a decision that would later bring the entire group to destruction and see Qaumi imprisoned for decades.
Abouhalka will appear in court today charged with possess unregistered firearm, not keep firearm safely, possess ammunition without a licence, two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, and possession of a prescribed restricted substance.
Originally published as Brother-in-law of gang leader Farhad Qaumi charged with possession of shotgun, pistol, steroids
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