A member of the notorious Alameddine family will remain in jail on remand on a string of charges including alleged firearm offences just months after his release from prison infuriated police.
xjmtzywJamal Alameddine, 52, on Wednesday appeared in the NSW Supreme Court in a bid to be freed on bail.
Sporting a thick grey beard, glasses and wearing prison greens, he listened intently via videolink from Parklea Correctional Centre as his solicitor Elie Srour attempted to secure his freedom.
Mr Alameddine has been in custody since December when his bail was revoked for the alleged contravention of an AVO.
On December 7, Mr Alameddine was granted bail in the local court despite being charged with gun possession while being the subject of a firearm prohibition order at the time.
He was arrested after he was stopped by police in Liverpool allegedly riding in a taxi with $9000 and drugs.
He has been charged with drug possession and supply, however Mr Srour told the court that a drug analysis found the substances were not drugs and expected the charges to be withdrawn.
He was also charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime, related to the $9000.
However Mr Srour argued the prosecution would have trouble proving allegations that the cash was related to the sale of drugs considering the substance was discovered to be inert.
The court heard that a replica pistol was also found inside a manbag at the feet of one of his co-accused and his DNA was found on the weapon.
However Mr Srour said it was possible his DNA could have been placed on the handle via secondary transfer and Mr Alameddine intended to fight the allegations in court.
He was subsequently released on bail, with a senior police source telling the Daily Telegraph at the time that there was no deterrence for gun charges.
He was arrested later that month for allegedly contravening an AVO earlier in December.
When police executed a warrant on his house, it’s alleged that 50 rounds of ammunition were found in his yard, the court heard, and has been charged with possessing ammunition without a licence.
Mr Srour said that Mr Alameddine’s four months in custody had been onerous because of Covid and his health conditions including heart disease and diabetes.
He also attacked the strength of the crown cases against his client and argued that any time spent in custody on remand could exceed any non-parole period imposed if convicted.
However Justice Michael Walton rejected his assertion.
The court heard that Mr Alameddine “maintains criminal associations” with the crown opposing his bid to be freed on bail.
“In my view even allowing for what appears to be a deficit in the crown case in the second group of charges, there remains a real prospect that the applicant faces a term of full time custody arising from the three groups of offences,” Justice Walton said.
Justice Walton refused Mr Alameddine’s bail application.
“No bail?” Mr Alameddine asked his lawyer after being refused bail, giving a thumbs down symbol.
