By Perry Duffin
A seventh alleged “key player” in the murder of cocaine kingpin Alen Moradian – a getaway driver named Indiana Jones – has been charged for the daylight execution that sparked an underworld war.
Moradian, 48, was sitting in his black Audi beneath his Bondi Junction apartment complex in June last year when a gunman fired through his driver’s side window.
Drug kingpin Alen Moradian was shot dead in a basement car park in Bondi Junction in June. Seven alleged “key players” have been charged.
The gangster, infamous for his gaudy fixation on all things Versace and gold, died in the underground car park as his assassins fled. They torched a Porsche in a nearby street, leaving a gun inside, and burned a Holden a few suburbs away before vanishing.
Months of violence, including multiple shootings, followed Moradian’s death as gangs fought to seize control of Sydney’s cocaine market.
Taskforce Magnus, established to halt the violence, and Strike Force Parachuter, set up to investigate Moradian’s death, had arrested six alleged key figures in the shooting.
Jones, 21, became the seventh when detectives detained him at Newcastle police station at 11am on Thursday and charged him with murder and participating in a criminal group.
The CCTV of Moradian’s execution with the hooded assassin police allege is Dut Deng, arrested at the start of the month.Credit: NSW Police
“We will allege in court this man was the driver of the getaway car who drove the shooter to and from the crime scene and assisted in destroying each car as they fled,” homicide squad commander Virginia Gorman said.
“We will further allege – with this man now charged with his involvement – detectives have charged the key players involved in the killing of Alen Moradian.”
Footage from the underground car park showed a masked man leaping from the gunmetal grey Porsche SUV and darting off-screen with a gun seconds before Moradian met his death.
Detectives charged alleged gunman Dut Deng at the start of this month.
The alleged mastermind of the plot to kill Moradian is also behind bars, but cannot be identified because of a court order. The killing was said to be over a drug debt.
“Fathead”, as Moradian was known to associates, was arrested in 2007 along with others over what police said was one of the largest cocaine and money-laundering rackets in NSW history.
He was sentenced to 16 years and nine months in jail for drug importation and supply.
After his killing police alleged Moradian had maintained a significant role in the city’s coveted cocaine supply chain, and was still linked to the Comanchero bikie gang.
The partially burned out Porsche, used in the hit, was found in a Bondi neighbourhood with a gun inside. Police allege it was driven by Indiana Jones, aged 21.Credit: Kate Geraghty
The violence that followed Moradian’s death reached a highwater mark one month later, with five people shot in five days.
Three innocent people were shot when a rival drug gang mistook them for Comanchero kidnappers.
Ahmed Al-Azzam, 25, died when a gunman allegedly linked to the Haouchar Organised Crime Network shot him in his parked car in an industrial area in Greenacre.
A couple in a nearby car were also shot but survived. All three victims had no connection at all to organised crime.
Police have a warrant out for the suspected gunman, Anthony Pele, who detectives claim was part of a murder-for-hire syndicate linked to the Haouchars.
Pele’s associates were arrested earlier this month accused of plotting to abduct and murder Sydney drill rap group OneFour. None have been charged over Moradian’s death. They remain before the courts.
Pele is believed to be hiding out overseas.
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