Picture snaps high-profile bikie Tarek Zahed’s bail bid

Comanchero national sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed’s photo with known associates just months after surviving an attempted hit has come back to bite him.

Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed, left, and associates. Picture: Instagram

Comanchero national sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed’s act of bravado in posing for a photo with known associates just months after surviving an attempted hit has come back to bite him.

On Wednesday, the bikie boss was denied bail following his high-profile arrest for his alleged involvement in a 2014 kidnapping and murder, when police prosecutors produced a picture to demonstrate he had been in “direct contravention” of a Serious Crime Prevention Order.

A magistrate at Bankstown Local Court denied the 42-year-old bail, despite the court hearing of Mr Zahed’s extensive medical issues following the unsuccessful attempted hit on his life in May, where he miraculously survived being struck by 10 bullets. His brother Omar died in the ambush.

Mr Zahed appeared before magistrate Shane McAnulty wearing black glasses and a beard, listening intently to proceedings as his barrister, Peter Lange, pleaded for his release.

The police prosecutor held up a photograph, which had been posted to the Instagram account of Comanchero national president Allan Meehan, of Mr Zahed at a restaurant in Melbourne with associates. All posts have since been wiped from the account.

Tarek Zahed leaving Sydney’s Downing Centre court in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

The Serious Crime Prevention Order is intended to prevent Mr Zahed associating with certain members of the community but is enforceable only in NSW.

Referencing an affidavit submitted to the court, Mr Lange said Mr Zahed’s arrest at gunpoint in August was described as “the most vicious way of carrying out an ­arrest”. Mr Zahed was picked up by tactical police in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, months after he survived the attempted assassination.

“The arrest has led to medical complications,” Mr Lange said.

He said if Mr Zahed was treated in custody, there would be a great impact on his “health and wellbeing”.

“To suggest these complicated procedures could be carried out within the justice health system is hopeful,” he said.

“The absence of such care will have a very real, tangible ultimate impact upon the health and wellbeing of this applicant.”

The police prosecutor said Mr Zahed’s health matters “aren’t life-threatening” and he had also been recommended for plastic surgery.

“Some (surgery seems) to be what any orthopaedic surgeon can do,” the prosecutor said.

“It doesn’t have to be a specialist, or specific surgeon.”

The prosecutor said since Mr Zahed wished to reside in Victoria, NSW police’s ability to monitor his bail conditions would be “extremely limited” or “impossible to enforce”.

Mr McAnulty said he was not satisfied there were conditions proposed by Mr Zahed’s defence that would mitigate the risk of granting bail.

“Accordingly, Mr Zahed will remain – bail refused for the moment,” Mr McAnulty said.

Mr Zahed will return to Bankstown court on November 16.