A feud between the notorious Alameddine and Hamzy crime families contributed to the alleged daylight snatching and assault of a man who failed to produce fake Covid-19 certificates, a court has heard.
Tareek Hamzy, 23, appeared in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday.
He was refused bail after being charged in relation to the alleged kidnapping and stabbing of a 24-year-old at Merrylands in Sydney’s west on September 18.
Police allege the 24-year-old victim, who was allegedly involved in making fake vaccination certificates, was attacked by a group of men on Rickard St and forced into a white Toyota Hiace van.
He was allegedly driven to an abandoned Auburn warehouse where he was bashed, stabbed and extorted over several hours.
The alleged victim was released and discovered at Birrong later that day with stab wounds to his shoulders.
Mr Hamzy surrendered himself in January and is among seven men charged over the alleged kidnapping, alongside fellow Hamzy family members Ibrahem Hamze and Haissam Hamzy.
All three have been charged with take or detain in company with intent to get advantage occasioning actual bodily harm.
Mr Hamzy appeared in the same court earlier in the week where his barrister Greg James SC proposed he be released on strict conditions, including a $80,000 surety and an electronic ankle monitor.
The crown prosecution opposed the bail application, saying the Hiace van used in the kidnapping was registered to his sister. It is not alleged his sister engaged in any wrongdoing.
The court heard call charge records link Mr Hamzy to key places, including in the van and at a meeting at Condell Park to plan the alleged abduction.
Mr James argued his client was not a risk to the community as he had no prior convictions, and had “extensive links” to the community.
Police allege the man was abducted as he promised to provide fake Covid-19 vaccine certificates to the group so they could work on construction sites.
Once the man was detained, the group allegedly forced him to transfer $22,000 after a demand was made for $40,000.
Handing down his judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Garling said the offence was “serious” as the group of men allegedly lured the man to the location before kidnapping him in broad daylight on a public street.
“He was held for a number of hours where he was punched, kicked and stabbed in the arm with a knife,” Justice Garling said.
“His abductors threatened to kill him.”
Justice Garling told the court while Mr Hamzy has no criminal history, he was “concerned” about his associations with his co-accused and members of the Hamzy family.
“It is notorious from proceedings in this court, there is an organised criminal network involving a significant number of members of the Hamzy family and their associates,” Mr Garling said.
“The victim made reference to the fact he is associated with the Alameddine family.
“It is a fact the Hamzy criminal network and Alameddine criminal network are engaged in a dispute which involves the infliction of violencexjmtzyw in public places at all times of the day or night.”
While Mr Hamzy’s lawyers offered up strict bail conditions, Justice Garling said his decision had caused him “some difficulty”.
He told the court the nature and seriousness of the offence persuaded him that the strict bail conditions “were not likely to ameliorate the bail concerns” raised by the crown prosecutors.
“If somebody is prepared to engage to collect a sum of money, there is a very real and continuing risk they will continue to behave in such an unlawful manner in the future,” Mr Garling said.
Mr Hamzy will remain behind bars in custody on remand.
