Al Yazbek hides out at ashram in India ahead of sentencing over Nazi symbol rally saga
As disgraced former Nomad restaurant boss Al Yazbek chases spiritual healing abroad, his wife has officially taken the reigns of the troubled company as part of a stigma-shaking restructure.
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The disgraced former Nomad restaurant boss has flown to an ashram in India three weeks after being charged for displaying a Nazi symbol during a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney as it’s been revealed he called his Jewish landlords an anti-Semitic slur.
Al Yazbek, who co-owned the exclusive Reine & La Rue in Collins St, Nomad Melbourne and Nomad Sydney with his wife Rebecca, was officially removed as the company director as the group continued its damage control efforts on Friday.
The move comes as it was reported by The Australian he called his Jewish landlords “Shylock & Shylock” during a dispute over the premises of the Nomad restaurant, flying in the face of his claims he was simply protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza.
On Friday, Ms Yazbek revealed she would be the company’s sole director, which is also being renamed Edition Hospitality as part of the fallout from Mr Yazbek’s alleged behaviour.
In a statement, Ms Yazbek said her husband was in India and was planning to return to Australia for his sentencing on December 10.
She also said it was “the right time” to move toward a new phase in the business.
“Nomad Group is already a successful company. I am confident this new structure will work towards our future success,” she said.
“I will announce more on our vision later, including our exciting growth strategy.
“I have a great team around me, and we’ve learnt a lot since we opened our first
restaurant over a decade ago.
“I see this as a new phase – both personally and professionally for me.
“Running great restaurants is always a huge challenge, and I know I have the support
of my incredible staff, who make dining at any of the restaurants such an amazing experience.”
Celebrity accountant Anthony Bell, who is best mates with Karl Stefanovic and Michael Clarke and founder and chief executive of Bell Partners, was also appointed business adviser as part of the move.
Holding the swastika sign at the Palestine protest was not the first time Mr Yazbek had been questioned by police.
According to The Australian, Mr Yazbek called his Jewish landlords “Shylock & Shylock” — an age-old anti-Semitic slur— during a dispute over the premises of his Nomad restaurant.
He also demeaningly referred to one of the landlord’s employees as “the little bald Jewish guy who works for you”.
The comments were made in emails to prominent Sydney real estate investors Robert and Geula Burke, who own the five-storey Surry Hills building housing Mr Yazbek’s ground floor Nomad restaurant.
Highly regarded members of Sydney’s Jewish community, Mr Burke, 75, and Israeli-born Ms Burke, 73, are understood to have been appalled by the emails but not surprised when Mr Yazbek was revealed to have brandished a sign bearing a swastika superimposed on an Israeli flag.
Ten years ago he was spoken to after acting suspiciously outside a Bondi synagogue with his car found loaded with “water bomb” balloons.
The next day, he made his way into a rally for Israel where more than 10,000 members of Sydney’s Jewish community had gathered, before the restaurateur was spotted by security and removed by police.
Police also reportedly spoke to Mr Yazbek’s wife, Rebecca, who was found in a car outside the event and said she was waiting for her husband.
Jewish community leaders have been alarmed by Mr Yazbek’s conduct and believe his display of a swastika superimposed on an Israeli flag was not a one-off event and that the high-profile restaurateur “has form”.
Ms Yazbek’s comments come a week after turning on her husband, saying she was “furious” with his actions.
“As both his wife and business partner, I was furious with his actions and heartbroken by the harm they caused. I fully understand the disappointment and frustration felt by those affected, and I am committed to doing everything possible to restore your trust,” she wrote.
Last week Mr Yazbek was removed from the group’s management team, but remained a director of the company.
The group continued to suffer from the fallout of her husband’s action with top clients severing ties with the restaurant group.
The restaurant was sensationally dumped as the official hospitality provider inside the G.H Mumm marquee at this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Originally published as Al Yazbek hides out at ashram in India ahead of sentencing over Nazi symbol rally saga
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