Mother of alleged Alameddine clan member charged over ‘fake’ COVID-19 vaccination certificate

The mother of an alleged Alameddine gang member has been charged after providing a fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination certificate to work at a primary school in Sydney’s west, police will allege.

Jeanette Catherine Jeske, the mother of Trent Jeske – who is allegedly a member of the Alameddine crime network – was arrested on Tuesday after a police investigation into her son’s alleged involvement in the crime clan led to a raid on her Merrylands home.

Police will allege the 55-year-old woman obtained the fake vaccination certificate last October from her connections to the Alameddine group.

Detectives are investigating the Alameddine’s alleged drug-running subgroup dubbed ‘Ready4War’. Jeske’s son Trent is currently behind bars awaiting trial on charges related to the alleged “dial-a-dealer” operation. Police have alleged he is part of the Alameddine operation.

The primary school employee, who works as an administration manager, was charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, dealing with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000, and participating or contributing to criminal group activity.

After Jeske was initially refused bail by police, prosecutors did not oppose her application for release in Fairfield Local Court on Wednesday.

Police seized cash, documentation and electronic items during the raid on her home.Credit: Police Media

Her high-profile lawyer, Winston Terracini SC, told the court he wanted it “on the record” that his client was being treated as a “major criminal” by Raptor Squad police, whom he described as “hooligans” who had provided an “outrageous, fantastic made-up charge sheet”.

“They’ve leaked it to the media ... they’ve trashed our house after they’ve searched it,” he said. “Now have the hide to say they don’t object to anything. This has just got to stop.”

State Crime Command Director Grant Taylor said it was not unusual for police to stumble upon separate offences during an investigation, which will be followed up.

“There is a significant amount of evidence in regards to secondary individuals that we [will] now pursue after we arrested the first individuals,” he said regarding the Ready4War investigation.

“This is just one example of a number of people that will be approached who will be spoken to and will be interviewed in regards to criminal matters other than specifics around that organised crime network.”

In total, 20 people are before the courts as a result of the investigation into the alleged Alameddine drug ring.

The alleged offenders are facing various charges such as drug supply, firearm possession, fraud, and directly participating in criminal group offences.

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