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Fadi Ibrahim waits to be released on bail

Fadi Ibrahim could be free on bail before the weekend despite the need for a $2.2 million surety to be posted following a Sydney court appearance.

Fadi Ibrahim
Fadi Ibrahim has been granted bail in Sydney after his arrest in Dubai six weeks ago. (AAP)

Fadi Ibrahim's lawyer is optimistic he will be free on bail before the weekend after facing a Sydney court over his alleged role in an international drug and tobacco-smuggling syndicate.

Ibrahim was among three relatives of Sydney nightclub identity John Ibrahim arrested last month when the alleged conspiracy was blown open.

He was extradited from Dubai at the weekend, along with his younger brother Michael Ibrahim and two others, before being granted conditional bail at Sydney's Central Local Court.

His freedom came on the condition of a $2.2 million surety imposed by magistrate Les Mabbutt.

Ibrahim was transferred from the Sydney Police Centre in Goulburn Street to Silverwater Correctional Centre on Tuesday.

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His lawyer Abbas Soukie claimed to have been left in the dark about his client's whereabouts.

"I am more focused on getting him out than on where he is to be honest," he told AAP.

Mr Soukie was rushing to complete paperwork and secure Ibrahim's release.

"I would like to get him out now, but realistically I don't think it will be tomorrow," he said.

"I think it's more likely it will be Thursday."

The court heard even when he is out of custody, Ibrahim will be be "basically under house arrest".

He will have to reside at his Dover Heights home, surrender his passport, have only one mobile phone and not contact any co-accused or witnesses.

Ibrahim spent six weeks behind bars in Dubai after a co-ordinated series of raids and arrests in Sydney and the United Arab Emirates on August 8.

During the sting, Australian Federal Police and their NSW counterparts arrested 18 people after intercepting a shipment of drugs bound for Australia worth an estimated $810 million in July.

John Ibrahim's son Daniel was also arrested, as was his model girlfriend Sarah Budge.

On Monday, the court heard there was no allegation Fadi Ibrahim was involved with any of the drug transactions, however he's accused of putting up $800,000 to fund a tobacco importation deal.

Mustapha Dib, 34, and Koder Jomaa, 47, also returned to Sydney from Dubai under police escort at the weekend.

Michael Ibrahim could face life imprisonment if convicted of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug

He did not appear at court or apply for bail.

The brothers will face the same court on November 1 with Dib, who has not applied for bail, and Jomaa.


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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