Rasim Kasumovic jailed for multiple counts of drug trafficking at Glenelg after syndicate busted

A once successful property developer whose life spiralled when he discovered his wife had been unfaithful has been jailed after he was caught in an undercover police sting.

A drug dealer was selling methamphetamine from his western suburbs apartment while on home detention for other drug offences, a court has heard.

Rasim Kasumovic, 49, hit rock bottom and became hooked on the drug after finding out his wife had been cheating on him while in jail.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Kasumovic’s offending was detected as a result of a five-month long investigation called Operation Globe.

Kasumovic’s co-accused, Faezeh Ghasedi, was obtaining methamphetamine from him and keeping some herself and selling some to undercover police officers.

The court heard Ghasedi would meet Kasumovic at his apartment, a bench outside the apartment complex or the Watermark Hotel to obtain the drugs.

Rasim Kasumovic was jailed for six years for multiple counts of drug trafficking. Photo: File

Police began conducting surveillance of Kasumovic’s Colley Tce, Glenelg apartment and intercepting phone conversations.

The offending occurred frequently between November 2018 to April 2019 and involved significant amounts of methamphetamine.

The court heard $10,250 was found at Kasumovic’s home at the time of his arrest.

Kasumovic, of West Croydon, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of drug trafficking.

Judge Joana Fuller said Ghasedi, who also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of drug trafficking, was the driving force behind the network and had a considerable customer base.

The court heard Kasumovic was involved in a property development business which collapsed in 2013 and he was declared bankrupt and developed massive depressive disorder.

He was then jailed for drug importation and released on home detention to his wife’s Glenelg premises in 2018.

The court heard Mr Kasumovic found out his wife had been unfaithful while he was in jail and hit “rock bottom”, before he was introduced to methamphetamine and quickly became addicted.

“You started a sexual relationship with Ms Ghasedi and you tried to impress her by big-noting your ability to access drugs,” Judge Fuller said.

Judge Fuller said Kasumovic’s low IQ of 67 – after his counsel noted ‘Forrest Gump’ had an IQ of 75 – significantly diminished his moral culpability.

Actor Tom Hanks in scene from hugely popular 1994 film Forrest Gump.

“While it would appear at first blush that you have been a successful businessman, it is clear that your family have effectively propped you up in those businesses … because you are the eldest boy and, in your culture, you are to be, and appear to be, the big boss,” she said.

“The reality was that you performed menial, or mechanical, or labouring tasks and the other family members oversaw the administration and key aspects of the operation of the businesses.”

As a result, Judge Fuller declined to sentence Kasumovic as a serious, repeat offender – which would mean his non-parole would be at least four fifths of the head sentence.

Instead, she jailed him for six years, with a non-parole period of three years.

The sentence was backdated to June 15, 2022.

Originally published as Rasim Kasumovic jailed for multiple counts of drug trafficking at Glenelg after syndicate busted