Sydney nightclub figure John Ibrahim’s younger brother Michael has been warned he will be killed if he is extradited from Dubai to Australia.
The 37-year-old has been behind bars since he was arrested on August 8 with his brother Fadi, 43, for their alleged roles in an $810 million drug ring spanning across Sydney, the Netherlands and Dubai.
The ‘Dubai Six’, which includes Fadi and Michael Ibrahim, Mustapha Dib, Stephen Elmir, Hakan Arif and Koder Jomaa, were reportedly spending the day celebrating on a luxury yacht when they were surprised by Dubai officers.
Sydney nightclub figure John Ibrahim’s younger brother Michael, 37, has been warned he will be killed if he is extradited from Dubai to Australia. John Ibrahim (left) is seen with brother Michael (second from right), and friend Margaret Staltaro
Another 10 people, including John Ibrahim’s son Daniel and girlfriend Sarah Budge, were arrested in simultaneous raids across almost 30 properties in Sydney.
John Ibrahim has allegedly advised Michael not to return to Australia because some people implicated in the drug ring blame the 37-year-old for introducing them to a witness, according to The Daily Telegraph.
‘A few people are angry with Michael and some people have lost a lot of money which they will want back or (they will) want revenge,’ a source told the publication.
‘He was shot once, so it’s not hard to believe someone might try again,’ the source said, referencing a shooting in 2015 during which Michael received non-life threatening injuries.
Michael is of Lebanese descent and is reportedly planning on becoming a Lebanese citizen in a bid to escape a possible attempt on his life or lengthy prison sentence.
The 37-year-old has been behind bars since he was arrested on August 8 with his brother Fadi (pictured with his wife Shayda), 43, for their alleged roles in an $810 million drug ring spanning across Sydney, the Netherlands and Dubai
The ‘Dubai Six’ includes Fadi and Michael Ibrahim, Mustapha Dib, Stephen Elmir, Hakan Arif and Koder Jomaa (pictured)
Mustapha Dib remains behind bars in Dubai
Because there is no extradition treaty in place between Australia and Lebanon, he would not be forced back to Australia.
Five of the six men locked up in Dubai are of Lebanese descent and two others are believed to be applying for dual citizenship, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Migration Institute of Australia’s George Lombard said the dual citizenship request was a logical move for the men if they wanted to escape the Australian judicial system.
‘Theoretically they could be declared Lebanese citizens, kicked out of Dubai and live anywhere in the world where there is no extradition agreement with Australia or Lebanon to bring them back home,’ he said.
It was previously reported that secret plans to extradite the ‘Dubai Six’ to Australia on private jets will reportedly cost the taxpayer $1 million.
If extradited, the alleged underworld figures would reportedly be flown out of Dubai on several Global Express jets, with the most dangerous of them flown separately because it was considered the ‘safest’ option. Each Global Express jet would cost $250,000 to charter.
John Ibrahim is not accused of any committing any offence.
Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim, who was not accused of any involvement in the alleged drug ring, was pictured at his Sydney property on Wednesday reading his own book
Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim pictured relaxing by the ocean at his Sydney home while reading his own book Last King of the X
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.