A man allegedly part of a kidnapping plot has been granted bail after his lawyer asked how four men could fit themselves and more than 700kg of cocaine inside a Toyota Yaris.
In December police responded to a report of a break-in to find four men sitting in the car parked in the garage of an apartment in Ryde in Sydney’s north.
They were arrested for an alleged plot to kidnap Hussein Hamed Habeeb from his unit where police say they found an estimated $1 billion worth of cocaine.
One of these co-accused, Bilal Gheneim made a successful bid for bail during a hearing at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old has been charged alongside Moumin Hamouda, Liam Roger Goodhew and Eldin Huric over the alleged criminal scheme.
Appearing by video link from Silverwater jail, Gheneim wore prison greens and looked anxious as his solicitor Abdul Saddik argued for his release on bail.
Mr. Saddik said while police prosecutors had a strong case that his client opened the garage door during the break and enter, it would be difficult to show Gheneim had any idea of the alleged kidnapping plot or the 722kg in cocaine.
“It is my opinion ... this group of young boys were there to open that door, to sit inside that Yaris and leave, and somebody else was going to be there,” the lawyer said.
There were also questions around how four grown men could fit such a large amount of drugs in a small car such as a Yaris, Magistrate Christopher Halburd heard.
“For starters … anything that weighs 722kg is not going to fit in a Toyota Yaris with four people,” Mr. Saddik said.
The 20-year-old had led a law-abiding life up until his arrest in December and had a supportive family with no criminal connections, Mr. Saddik said.
Police prosecutors opposed bail, saying there was a risk Gheneim would not appear in court, would interfere with witnesses and could commit further serious offences.
Mr. Halburd released the 20-year-old under strict bail conditions which include reporting daily to police and living at an address in Sydney’s southwest with his family.
He also has to surrender his passport, be subject to a nightly curfew, only possess one mobile phone and refrain from entering the suburb of Ryde.
Mr Halburd warned Gheneim to comply with his bail or else risk going back to prison.
“If you breach it, you'll find yourself in there as fast as you can imagine and you might find it difficult to get out,” he said.
Gheneim’s family members who came and supported him in court, hugged Mr Saddick and thanked him after the hearing.
Hamouda, Goodhew and Huric all pleaded not guilty to these charges on Jan. 24.
According to documents filed with the court, police searched the Yaris after arresting the four men and found a meat cleaver, knife, crowbar, zip-ties and balaclavas.
A fifth man, allegedly involved in the plot and unknown to the police, is still at large.
