Two men arrested in connection to Mejid Hamzy murder

Nine months after younger brother of Brothers For Life founder Bassam Hamzy shot dead outside his Sydney home, police arrest two over the killing.

Mejid Hamzy was shot dead outside his Condell Park home last year. Picture: Facebook

Two brothers accused of being linked to the Alameddine crime family have been arrested and charged over the murder last year of Sydney underworld figure Mejid Hamzy.

NSW police executed a series of search warrants Wednesday morning, almost nine months after Hamzy was shot dead outside his Condell Park home in an ambush that had authorities scrambling to prevent reprisals.

A 38-year-old man, Ezzeddine Omar, was arrested at a Liverpool home and has been charged with 17 offences including murder.

Police allege he was involved in organising the killing and was a getaway vehicle driver.

“It is not alleged that he was the actual shooter,” Detective Acting Superintendent Grant Taylor said.

His 44-year-old brother, Mohamad Omar, was arrested at Croydon and has been charged with proceeds of crime and drug offences.

It is alleged Mohamad Omar was involved in concealing a BMW allegedly used in the shooting.

Hamzy, 44, the younger brother of jailed Brothers For Life founder Bassam Hamzy, was gunned down outside his home by two men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas at around 7.30am on Monday October 19 last year.

NSW police have been investigating if the murder and the shooting of Hamzy’s cousin Bilal Hamze in Sydney’s CBD last month are linked to a violent feud with rivals from the Alameddine clan.

In December, police sought orders limiting the activities of members of the Hamzy and Alameddine families in a bid to stop further violence and told the NSW Supreme Court the dispute between them stemmed from a drug theft.

Hamze, 34, was subsequently shot dead as he left Japanese restaurant Kid Kyoto, after previously being warned by police that his life was at risk.

Acting Superintendent Taylor said it would be alleged that Ezzeddine Omar was an associate of the Alameddines.

“We are still obviously looking for more people involved in this matter,” he said.

The search warrants and arrests followed joint investigations between NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission.

“We’ve been utilising the most updated technology available to us … and today we’ve made a breakthrough,” Acting Superintendent Taylor said.

Criminal Groups Squad detectives executed a Firearms Prohibition Order search and six search warrants at Liverpool, Peakhurst, Bringelly and Helensburgh from 6am.

A Porsche stolen from Hunters Hill was recovered by police during the searches, along with other vehicle parts.

Police said they were examining a large number of items to determine whether they were linked to Hamzy’s murder or other offending.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Darren Bennett, the NSW Police state crime commander, said he was “very confident in clearing this and more matters up”.

“Everyone’s aware of the ongoing organised crime conflict that’s taking place around Sydney,” he said.

“Everyone’s aware that on occasion, that spills into violence in the public sphere including public place shootings and targeted murders and shooting up of houses.

“That’s why we put the amount of resources into these investigations that we do.”

Ezzeddine Omar has also been charged with knowingly and recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime, drug possession, facilitating organised car rebirthing and a range of driving offences. He was refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday.

Mohamad Omar was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court.