Sam Ibrahim will remain behind bars for his own safety

Underworld identity Sam Ibrahim has been kept in the state-run prison system for his own safety despite the parole authority ordering he be released into immigration detention no later than October 6.

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Underworld identity Sam Ibrahim has been kept in the state-run prison system for his own safety despite the parole authority ordering he be released into immigration detention no later than October 6.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Ibrahim, the brother of former Kings Cross clubowner John Ibrahim, was not transferred from Long Bay Correctional Centre to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre on Tuesday as planned, prompting an angry response from his lawyer.

The State Parole Authority last week deemed Ibrahim suitable for parole after more than five years behind bars for a firearms offence.

Sam Ibrahim is being kept in prison for his own safety.

But given Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton had revoked his permanent residency visa on character grounds in 2015, parole simply meant Ibrahim was free to swap the correctives system for federal immigration detention on or before October 6.

He will fight efforts by the government to deport him to Lebanon where he was born.

The Daily Telegraph understands a decision was reached between immigration authorities and Corrective Services NSW to keep Ibrahim at Long Bay fearing he could not be kept safe from other detainees at Villawood.

“The Corrective Services NSW Commissioner has the authority to approve an inmate who is going to be deported to remain in CSNSW custody,” a Corrective Services statement to The Daily Telegraph said today.

“This occurs in exceptional circumstances at the request of Australian Border Force. The Commonwealth covers all associated costs.”

Ibrahim’s lawyer Abbas Soukie said the reasons for his client’s continuing incarceration at Long Bay “has not been disclosed to Mr Ibrahim or his legal representatives”.

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“The idea that the Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW has the authority to approve an inmate that is facing deportation to remain in custody of Corrective Services is deeply concerning, and has the direct effect of undermining the parole order,” Mr Soukie told The Telegraph.

“Ironically, since being granted parole, Mr Ibrahim has been transferred to the segregation wing of the prison at which he is presently housed … the process is fraught with a lack of transparency.”

Sam Ibrahim has had his visa revoked.

Asked about Ibrahim’s case last week, the ABF said “foreign nationals who do not hold a valid visa will be liable for detention and removal from Australia”.

“The Australian Government takes seriously its responsibility to protect the Australian community from the risk of harm posed by foreign nationals who engage in criminal conduct or behaviour of concern,” the ABF said in a statement.

“Removals of non-citizens have not stopped as a result of COVID-19, however have significantly slowed since March 2020 due to the availability of commercial flights and the travel restrictions.”

Ibrahim, now aged in his mid-50s, pleaded guilty in 2018 to one count of conspiring to supply firearms in a syndicate with his sister Jazz Dior, her partner Elvis Mileski, and former Rose Tattoo drummer Paul DeMarco.

Ibrahim, once the president of the Nomads Parramatta Chapter, was jailed for nine years with a non-parole period of six-and-a-half years, backdated to his arrest in 2014. He had the sentence downgraded on appeal to eight-and-a-half years with a non-parole period of five years and nine months. 

Originally published as Sam Ibrahim will remain behind bars for his own safety