EXCLUSIVE
A tradie accused of abandoning his wife on an overseas trip shared photos of himself sightseeing around the world and picnicking with mates while she was allegedly left stranded without her passport thousands of miles from home.
Ali Rahimi, 29, allegedly flew out of Sydney with his wife, 28, on July 8 last year after tricking her into thinking they were going overseas to visit family.
The pair travelled to Afghanistan – where he is originally from – for a family holiday before heading to Pakistan to see her family.
Rahimi, who allegedly had control of their tickets, passports, and other travel documents, then allegedly told her he was heading back to Afghanistan to visit his friends.
The woman, who Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to name, allegedly learned in September 2023 that he had returned back to Australia without her.
She had allegedly been left, helpless, in Pakistan without any ID, in an apparent case of what prosecutors now call ‘exit trafficking’.
Photos posted online four days after the couple left Australia show Rahimi enjoying a milkshake with a male friend in restaurant in Herat, in Afghanistan’s northwest.
It was just the beginning of his globetrotting adventures that included a recent trip to Bali and Istanbul, Turkey, Facebook photos show.
Ali Rahimi enjoyed a trip to Bali in July this year – after allegedly dumping his wife in Pakistan without her identification documents
Days after allegedly leaving his wife behind, Rahimi, 29, (pictured left) is pictured in Afghanistan on July 12 last year
On July 8, 2023, Rahimi allegedly ‘exit trafficked’ his wife (pictured) out of Australia by tricking her into leaving the country
Social media photos document Rahimi’s adventures in the days that followed his initial trip to Afghanistan – exploring the countryside with mates.
Pictures of the group show them dressed in Perahan Tunban – a traditional Afghanistan men’s outfit consisting of a tunic top and pants – as they pose alongside a car next to a rural field in Qalat, in the country’s south-east.
Other photos taken on the same road trip show Rahimi and his mates standing next to an agricultural field clutching grapes, dipping their feet in a river, enjoying a picnic, and visiting historical sites at Bamyan, 466km north of Qalat.
Two weeks later, on August 26, Rahimi shared another photo of himself standing in front of a rock wall as he continued his sightseeing adventure in the Middle East.
The following week he had moved on to a new destination – Karbala, in Iraq – where he posted photos of him marching through the streets alongside thousands of pilgrims as part of a religious event.
Since allegedly returning home without his wife later that month, Rahimi has continued to go on overseas trips, including jaunts to Bali and Turkey in July this year.
His wife contacted AFP with her claims in November, sparking an investigation.
Photos posted online in August 2023 show Rahimi on a road trip around Afghanistan with several friends
The group stopped at a watering hole to dip their feet in a stream
They also enjoyed a picnic lunch and some drinks they brought in a thermos
Rahimi is pictured posing outside the entranceway into Bamiyan City, a three hour drive west of capital city Kabul
The AFP worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assist the woman to return to Australia safely.
Rahimi was arrested by Australian Federal Police officers last Wednesday, nine months after officers first raided his Auburn home in Sydney’s west where they allegedly seized passports, phones and travel documents.
The tiler was charged with one count of exit trafficking of a person from Australia by using deception, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years behind bars.
The arrest came just four years after Rahimi was granted Australian citizenship.
Sharing a photo of himself receiving his certificate in September 2020, he wrote: ‘Today, I have been given the honour and privilege to be citizen of the greatest country, the most ethnically diverse societies in the world “Australia”.’
‘Yes I finally made it.’
During Rahimi’s bail hearing in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, his lawyer Lisa Dao disputed the allegations her client took control of his wife’s travel documents.
Ms Dao said Rahimi’s wife was able to access her the documents during the trip.
The court heard that Rahimi intends to fight the charge as Ms Dao disputed concerns raised by the prosecution that her client is a flight risk.
Ms Dao told the court that Rahimi went overseas for a holiday as recently as July after the trip was approved by federal agents.
She added that he runs a tiling business and has family living in Sydney.
Later in August 2023, Rahimi shared another snap of himself posing at a site in the Middle East
Rahimi is pictured participating in a pilgrimage in Iraq in September last year
Rahimi is pictured in Turkey during a holiday in July
Rahimi is pictured receiving his Australian citizenship in 2020
Police opposed Rahimi’s application for bail, claiming the case against him was a strong one.
However, Rahimi was released on bail on the condition he doesn’t contact his wife or members of her family.
He must also report to police three times a week and surrender his passport as part of his bail conditions.
He will reappear in court at a later date
It comes as AFP Detective acting inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias issued a general statement about exit trafficking, describing it as a serious criminal offence that is often underreported.
‘Exit trafficking can involve a person using coercion, deception or a threat, to organise or facilitate another to leave Australia,’ Detective Tsardoulias said.
‘No one has the right to force or deceive anyone to leave Australia, or to prevent them from returning against their will.
‘We want victims to know the AFP is here to help them and that their safety and wellbeing is our primary concern when we are investigating these matters.
‘Each case is handled with compassion and great care, and the victim’s needs are always paramount.’
If you suspect that you or another person is experiencing, or at risk of, modern slavery or human trafficking, call the AFP on 131 237.
Ali Rahimi leaves Burwood Court on Wednesday after he was granted bail
Rahimi was arrested on Wednesday morning by AFP officers
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