Buyers gave up the chance to live a gangster-chic lifestyle in the designer home of one of Australia’s most-wanted criminals when it was passed in at auction.
The six bedroom house in Sydney’s west was seized by the NSW Crime Commission after the second-in-command of the notorious Alameddine clan, Masood Zakaria, disappeared last year.
The crime boss is wanted by police for his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate a Hamzy gang rival and he is believed to have fled the country.
Police seized Zakaria’s Greystanes home and charged his wife Azza Zakaria for faking documents to secure their home loan for the property back in 2019.
Masood Zakaria (pictured) allegedly directed his wife Azza to present fake documents about her annual income and employment in order to obtain the home loan
Azza was granted a $1.125 million loan for the home (pictured) in early 2020 however unbeknownst to the broker the documents were almost all fraudulent
Police found Mrs Zakaria fraudulently declared an income of $240,000 on loan documents to buy the house in 2019.
The annual proceeds of Mrs Zakaria’s ‘self-employed’ role in childcare alerted suspicions as she holds no recognised childcare qualifications and is married to the notorious organised crime boss.
NSW Crime Commission put the flashy pad up for auction on Saturday with an expected price tag of $2million, and a guide price of over $1.75million.
As well as the six bedrooms, the flashy pad boasts two ‘premium bathrooms’ and three toilets in the unassuming Greystanes cul-de-sac.
But it was the unique black marbled kitchen which was the star attraction, dubbed ‘a funky designer gas kitchen’ by estate agents and featuring a double drawer dishwasher and an island breakfast bar.
The humungous kitchen (pictured) was expected to help push bids over the $2million dollar mark at auction on Saturday
It also boasted external cooking and entertaining areas with an underground guest bedroom and two-car garage maximising space on the massive 1,359 square metre residential block.
A small group of high-rollers – said to have arrived in European luxury cars, looking ready to buy – attended the auction on Saturday but no-one bid above $1.75 million.
Although the auction ended without a wining bid, a buyer was seen approaching the agent to negotiate after bidding closed.
However any proceeds from a sale will be held by NSW Crime Commission until all legal proceedings are concluded, when they could be forfeited to the state.
Any new owner will be able to shower in style in one of the home’s premium black bathrooms
The massive living room (pictured) is furnished with designer pieces including Coco Chanel pillows and throws
Masood Zakaria allegedly directed his wife Azza to fake a series of documents about her annual income and employment history to obtain a loan to buy the home back in 2019.
The couple purchased the luxurious Greystanes property for $1.5million in 2019 after applying for funds that would cover three quarters of the asking price.
Azza recently pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly obtaining advantage by deception at Parramatta Local Court.
Police on the same day had arrived at the Greystanes home in Sydney’s west to arrest Masood over the alleged attempted murder of rival Ibrahem Hamze.
The six-bedroom home with an ‘absolutely enormous’ master bedroom (pictured) and ensuite bathroom but failed to reach an expected $2million bid and was passed in
The couple purchased their luxurious Greystanes home (pictured) for $1.5million in 2019 after applying for funds to cover three quarters of the asking price
Police believe rivals had been planning to carry out an attack on Ibrahem Hamze when a stolen Mercedes was spotted on Walker Street on August 14.
The driver allegedly refused to stop the vehicle for officers before speeding off and running through a red light.
NSW Police criminal groups squad commander Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor said the two men were allegedly in the area ‘for the sole purpose of shooting dead a man who they believe is a rival in territorial disputes in south-west Sydney’.
Masood couldn’t be found when police knocked on his door on December 15 last year and is now believed to have fled to Turkey.
Parramatta Local Court heard the high-ranking member guided his wife through the process of creating a series of fraudulent financial documents later used to secure a home loan.
In the loan application Azza claimed an annual income of $240,000 from her role as an external consultant to childcare centres.
She stated she had previously been a centre director and had been self-employed in the childcare industry for five years before that.
The 26-year-old supplied references from ’employers’ and said her role included training staff, organising extra-curricular activities and drafting education plans.
Police on the same day had arrived at the couple’s home in Sydney’s west to arrest Masood over the alleged attempted murder of rival Ibrahem Hamze
Azza was granted a $1.125 million loan for the home in early 2020 however unbeknownst to the broker the documents were almost all fraudulent.
Police checks later found she had enrolled in a childcare training course but had later withdrew and had no certifications to her name.
The court heard Masood had masterminded the purchasing of the property which would leave a mark on his wife’s otherwise clean criminal record.
He allegedly directed Azza to make him the beneficial owner to ensure the house couldn’t be seized by law enforcements, which it later was.
Pictured from left to right is Tareek Hamzy, Ibrahem Hamze and Haissam Hamzy. Police arrived at the home of Masood Zakaria on December 15 to arrest him over the alleged attempted murder of Ibrahem
Masood allegedly then arranged for $310,000 to settle the property be transferred into his wife’s bank account through an associate.
Azza was then instructed to transfer those funds to a nominated account which she had to do at a physical branch.
‘It is alleged Zakaria is the beneficial owner of the property and the mortgage fraud was perpetuated in Azza’s name to intentionally conceal his connection to the property,’ documents tendered to the Parramatta Local Court read.
Azza was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order for her part in the scheme due to be complete in April 2023.
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