The Australian lawyer who’s represented gangsters, terrorists and Salim Mehajer

Ahmed Dib has represented a raft of controversial clients in court – from gangsters to terrorists, murderers, rapists and jailed former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer.

The Sydney-based defence lawyer is a strong proponent of the ‘innocent until proven guilty’ mantra, and has made an impressive name for himself in the criminal law circuit defending those who have been accused of abhorrent offences.

Among them are the likes of convicted bank robber John Killick – who dramatically escaped Sydney’s Silverwater Prison via helicopter in 1999 – and 81-year-old Robert Kidd, one of Australia’s oldest and most notorious criminals.

In 2016 Dib represented a Greek autistic teenager who faced terror charges after allegedly writing on Facebook that he wanted to kill a police officer; and earlier this year he defended Skaf gang rapist Belal Hajeid over charges of assault and stalking.

These are fairly typical cases for a man who continually insists a person is not the sum of their mistakes, and Dib prides himself on defending those who others would deem lost causes.

He also just so happens to be a professional junior middleweight boxer.

The Sydney-based defence lawyer is a strong proponent of the ‘innocent until proven guilty’ mantra (pictured with Billel Dib, left, and Torik Dib, right)

Dib (pictured) has made an impressive name for himself in the criminal law circuit defending those who have been accused of terror-related offences

‘[Law] is a disciplined career – boxing is exactly the same’ Dib, 30, told The Feed. 

‘Firstly you’ve got to be in it to win it, and never give up.’

It is this iron-clad tenacity that has seen Dib – a former NSW junior middleweight champion whose brother Billel and cousin Billy are both world-ranked professional boxers – claim 20 victories from 20 bouts so far, 12 by knockout.

Dib carries those same principles with him into the courtroom – along with one or two battle scars.

More than once the lawyer cum boxer has had to don foundation makeup and glasses to cover a black eye in front of a judge.

Dib also happens to be a professional middleweight boxer who has claimed 20 victories from 20 bouts so far, 12 of them by knockout

‘[Law] is a disciplined career – boxing is exactly the same,’ Dib says. ‘Firstly you’ve got to be in it to win it, and never give up’

In keeping with his ‘never say never’ philosophy, Dib believes that many people’s tendencies to give up on accused criminals and alleged terrorists is ignorant, unfair and un-Australian.

He describes Salim Mehajer, for one, as a ‘gentleman’ who comes from a good family but who has been portrayed in an unflattering light by the media – despite the fact he’s been found guilty of assault, fraud and intimidation. 

‘People make mistakes in life,’ Dib insists.

‘It doesn’t mean that you’ve made one mistake you should then lock them up and throw the key away. People are entitled to have a second chance.’

Dib (pictured with legal partner Eidan Havas) believes many people’s tendencies to give up on accused criminals and alleged terrorists is ignorant, unfair and un-Australian

Dib also recently represented notorious Skaf gang rapist Belal Hajeid when he faced court last month over charges of assault, damaging property and stalking.

Those charges related to a confrontation with Hajeid’s wife of two years whom he alleged had been cheating on him.

Following one of Hajeid’s hearings, Dib told Bankstown Local Court his client had acted impetuously.

‘Mr Hajeid found out that his partner was cheating on him,’ Mr Dib said. ‘Ultimately he’s handled it incorrectly.’

The Skaf gang rapes that took place in 2000 were described by a judge as being ‘worse than murder’.