His two brothers, girlfriend, son and associates were arrested just a fortnight ago – but trouble looks a world away for Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim.
Daily Mail Australia spotted ‘Teflon John’, 46, enjoying the early morning sun at his oceanfront mansion in Sydney’s east early on Wednesday.
He ripped off his shirt to soak up some rays while admiring his new autobiography, Last King of the Cross.
Meantime, as John sunned himself in balmy Dover Heights, his lesser known siblings Fadi and Michael were believed to be facing a third week in stifling hot Dubai jail cells.
Good morning! The Kings Cross identity stripped off his shirt to catch some early morning rays on a cloudless morning at his Dover Heights mansion
Oblivious to the camera, Ibrahim (left and right) settled in for some light reading on his top-level porch, which has expansive views of the Pacific Ocean
He set down his autobiography, Last King of the Cross, as well as a mobile device as the sun rose in the east
A nightclub owner in Sydney’s Kings Cross, Ibrahim (left) rose to fame after his portrayal in the 2010 TV series Underbelly: The Golden Mile. Ibrahim’s pleasant morning came after a visit from his model girlfriend Sarah Budge (right), who was charged with possessing a loaded gun earlier this month
Fadi Ibrahim (pictured with his wife Shayda) was dramatically arrested in July earlier this month
Fadi and Michael were dramatically arrested in Dubai earlier this month as part of a massive operation where police smashed what they said was an international drug smuggling syndicate.
The arrests were part of a coordinated police operation across Australia, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates. The brothers can remain behind bars in the UAE for 60 days, local officials have said.
Fadi’s lawyer, Michael Bennett, told the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday he could not attend a hearing concerning a property dispute with a brothel madam because he was ‘indisposed in the most public way’.
The two brothers have reportedly been held in underground cells in the notoriously overcrowded Al Barsha jail.
But John’s lifestyle hasn’t changed one bit since the raids. While Fadi and Michael look set to swelter in 42 degree Celsius temperatures on Wednesday, it was a cool and breezy 19 degrees on John’s front deck.
He has not been arrested, charged or accused of any criminal offence.
Ibrahim pottered around in his front yard as the sun rose on Wednesday. He hasn’t been arrested or charged with any offence
Won’t let it go: Before the arrests, Ibrahim had embarked upon a publicity tour for his new book including interviews with top Sydney media identities
Ibrahim was sitting at the top of his palatial pad – well above the supposed ‘secret tunnel’ out of his home
The calm scene at his home on Wednesday – which followed a visit from Ms Budge – was stark contrast to the chaos of a fortnight ago.
Dozens of police scoured his clifftop home – even taking apart light fittings – and officers reportedly discovered a secret tunnel to the boardwalk below.
A Sydney council this week announced it will investigate the existence of the tunnel which is said to run underneath the multi-million dollar property.
Waverley Council confirmed it had never approved such a structure.
The nightclub identity turned author was spotted striding around his expansive mansion
A pair of reading glasses dangled from his mouth as he appeared to flick through his book and electronic device
Pictured here is the exit to a tunnel (pictured) seemingly coming out of his multi-million dollar clifftop mansion
The door into the hidden passageway lies on public land, just metres from a popular boardwalk along the rugged coastline at Dover Heights, in Sydney’s lavish eastern suburbs
‘Waverley Council has not received or approved a development application for a tunnel [from the home] in George Street, Dover Heights,’ a council spokesperson said.
‘This matter has only just been brought to council’s attention and accordingly it is considering what action, if any, should be taken.
‘If such a tunnel does exist and is contained exclusively on private land, the council may merely seek structural certification and an application for a building certificate.
‘At this stage, no formal complaint has been received concerning the alleged tunnel.’
Fadi Ibrahim’s lawyer did not respond to a request for an update on the circumstances of the jailed Dubai siblings.