Fadi Ibrahim remains behind bars eight days after he was granted $2.2 million bail while brother John – the ‘King of the Cross’ reportedly worth more than $50 million – has been overseas.
The second youngest Ibrahim brother was granted bail on money laundering charges on September 18 but he is still stuck in a maximum security prison cell.
The 43-year-old’s bail required one or more ‘acceptable person’ to provide $2.2 million surety but it seems that condition has not been met.
If that surety is provided Ibrahim will live under effective house arrest in the $6 million clifftop home he shares with wife Shayda at Dover Heights, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, for what could be up to two years.
John Ibrahim’s younger brother Fadi, pictured with wife Shayda, was granted $2.2m bail at Central Local Court on August 18 over money laundering charges but is still behind bars
Fadi Ibrahim is being held in NSW’s largest prison, the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (pictured) at Silverwater, while waiting for someone to lodge his $2.2m bail
Once an acceptable person lodges $2.2m on behalf of Fadi Ibrahim he will have to live under effective house arrest in his clifftop home (pictured) at Dover Heights for up to two years
A ‘two-out’ cell at NSW’s largest prison, the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater, where Fadi Ibrahim will be held until someone can lodge his $2.2m bail
The six-bedroom, five-bathroom property bought for just over $4 million in 2013 has an estimated current value of at least $6 million and is just four blocks away from John’s $8 million home in George Street.
It was reported late last week that John – who is said to control a property portfolio worth $52 million – was overseas.
Meanwhile, Fadi will stay in New South Wales’s largest prison, housed among about 1200 inmates including accused murderers, rapists and bikies awaiting trial.
The day after Fadi was granted bail he was taken from the Sydney Police Centre in the inner-city to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) at Silverwater.
That day his lawyer Abbas Soukie told Australian Associated Press he was more focused on getting his client out of custody than his precise whereabouts.
‘I would like to get him out now, but realistically I don’t think it will be tomorrow,’ Mr Soukie said. ‘I think it’s more likely it will be Thursday.’
John Ibrahim’s brother Fadi has been charged with providing $800,000 towards the illegal importation of tobacoo and with receiving $1.6m from the proceeds of that alleged operation
Until he makes bail Fadi Ibrahim will be held in NSW’s largest prison, the maximum security Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (pictured) at Silverwater, west of Sydney
Actor Firass Dirani (left) who played John Ibrahim (right) in Underbelly: The Golden Mile; John Ibrahim has not been charged with any offence related to his brothers’ alleged crimes
There will be no flash clothes for Fadi Ibrahim while in the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre; all inmates are issued with a pair of these Dunlop joggers with Velcro fasteners
A week later Fadi is still in custody at the MRRC.
Fadi was arrested in Dubai on August 8 with his 39-year-old brother Michael and four other men in one of Australia’s biggest organised crime stings.
Unlike Michael, he has not been charged over an alleged international plot to import narcotics worth $810 million.
Michael, accused of conspiring to import and attempting to import a commercial quantity of ecstasy, did not apply for bail and also remains behind bars.
Also in jail is the oldest Ibrahim brother, 51-year-old Sam, who has been on remand for more than three years awaiting sentence for his role in a gun-running racket.
Fadi is accused of two money laundering offences: one of providing $800,000 towards illegally importing tobacco and one of receiving $1.6 million from the proceeds of that operation.
Fadi Ibrahim’s older brother, nightclub identity John, pictured at his Dover Heights home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs carrying a copy of his recent memoir Last King of the Cross
Accused money launderer Fadi Ibrahim pictured with his then fiancee and now wife Shayda Bastani attending Doncaster Day at Royal Randwick racecourse in Sydney in April 2010
Youngest Ibrahim brother Michael (left) pictured with second oldest brother, Kings Cross identity John (middle), second youngest brother Fadi (right) and mother Wahiba
The home of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim at Dover Heights in Sydney’s eastern suburbs which was searched by Australian Federal Police on the same day brother Fadi was arrested
An artist’s sketch of accused money launderer Fadi Ibrahim when he appeared via video link from the Sydney Police Centre at Central Local Court during a bail hearing on August 18
Fadi was granted bail on September 18 with a list of conditions including that one or more ‘acceptable person’ deposit $2.2 million.
His mother Wahiba had offered $1.5 million secured by her palatial home at Merrylands, in Sydney’s west. Wife Shayda provided an affidavit.
Fadi’s own financial assets have been frozen.
Magistrate Les Mabbutt said Fadi, who was extradited from Dubai two weekends ago, would ‘effectively’ be living under house arrest once the $2.2 million surety was lodged.
He cannot leave the property other than to make court appearances or to attend legal conferences or medical appointments, both of which would require 48 hours’ notice to police.
In the event of a medical emergency, Mr Mabbutt said he would expect Fadi to leave his home in an ambulance.
Fadi Ibrahim being taken to Royal North Shore Hospital after he was shot five times sitting with his fiancee Shayda Bastani in a Lamborghini outside the couple’s Castle Cove home in 2009
Fadi Ibrahim will be allowed a mobile phone once he makes bail but for now has to make do with sharing a landline like these inmates at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre
Fadi Ibrahim will have little choice in what he eats, drinks or wears while being held in NSW’s largest prison, the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater (pictured)
Fadi Ibrahim, brother of Kings Cross identity John, captured on CCTV footage as part of an Australian Federal Police investigation into a ring allegedly trafficking tobacco and drugs
Fadi was shot five times while he sat in his Lamborghini outside his former home at Castle Cove, on Sydney’s north shore, in 2009 and still requires pain management for those injuries.
Mr Mabbutt did not impose conditions that Fadi report to police as police would know where he was at all times and would likely have him under surveillance.
He is allowed to have one mobile phone, the number of which must be given to police.
Australian Federal Police already have possession of his passport and he must not apply for further travel documents. He cannot contact prosecution witnesses or his co-accused.
Central Local Court heard Fadi had borrowed $800,000 against the home and used that money to invest in a scheme police allege returned $1.6 million.
Mr Mabbutt said due to delays in the court system it could be 18 months to two years before Fadi faced any trial.
Inmates entering a yard at NSW’s largest prison, the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater, where Fadi Ibrahim will be held until he can make his $2.2m bail
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