Tarek Zahed: One-eyed ‘Balenciaga bikie’ kingpin set to walk free from prison this year despite role in underworld execution and dramatic police raid

Former bikie kingpin Tarek Zahed will be eligible for release as early as December for his role in the botched attempt to destroy evidence in the gangland killing of Youssef Assoum.

Just over 18 months since his dramatic arrest at the hands of heavily armed police in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Zahed, 43, learned his fate on Tuesday afternoon after expressing his desire to turn his life around.

The former Comanchero National Sergeant was arrested when officers shot out the windows of his car with beanbags in Edgecliff in August 2022.

Zahed, once dubbed the ‘Balenciaga bikie’, was charged with murder and kidnapping, with police at the time alleging he was responsible for the 2014 killing of Youssef Assoum, 29.

But in a late twist on the eve of Zahed’s trial last month, the murder charges were dropped when he and his brother Abdul struck a deal.

Tarek pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of obstructing the discovery of evidence in connection with the cleanup and ordering the destruction of a Mr. Assoum’s car.

Abdul Zahed pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder.

Zahed admitted that he had cleaned the car in which Assoum was killed and directed it to be destroyed at a wrecking yard.

The court heard that in December 2014, Mr Assoum was violently assaulted inside his Volkswagen Touareg, including being shot in the leg.

During the assault, his ankles and wrists were restrained.

The court heard that in the following days Zahed asked another man to destroy the Touareg.

At the time, Zahed knew Mr Assoum had been killed and suspected his brother Abdul was involved, the statement of agreed facts reveals.

“His motivation for taking these steps was a desire to protect his brother, a sentiment that was perhaps understandable but hardly commendable,” Judge Richard Button said during sentencing on Tuesday afternoon.

On Dec. 12, 2014, Zahed asked a man to remove blood from the seat, floor and dashboard, and together they wiped down the car, court documents state.

Zahed then asked the man to dispose of the car through a wrecking yard. However, this did not happen.

The other man then paid a friend to get rid of the car by ‘blowing it up’.

It was driven to Georges Hall in south-west Sydney, where it was set on fire before firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Zahed’s fingerprints were found on the vehicle along with a bullet which had traces of blood which was a DNA match to Mr Assoum.

While the plan was unsuccessful, Justice Button described Zahed as playing a ‘leading role’ and ‘organising mind’ in obstructing the police investigation.

Justice Button said it could not be said with certainty that Mr Assoum’s killers would have been caught if Zahed had not ordered the car to be cleaned and destroyed.

“The person or persons who committed the killing have never been brought to justice,” Justice Button said.

“It is impossible to say, apart from the actions carried out and directed by the perpetrator, that the murderer or murderers would have been discovered and punished.

“However, the perpetrator’s actions and orders played a role in making the police investigation more difficult.”

Zahed was arrested just months after he sensationally survived an assassination attempt that killed his other brother Omar.

In May 2022, Zahed was shot 10 times outside an Auburn gym in western Sydney.

Omar, 39, died after being shot multiple times in the arms, abdomen and legs, while Zahed was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

He survived the attack but suffered significant injuries, including losing an eye.

Sir. Zahed watched the proceedings via video link from Goulburn Prison on Tuesday afternoon, with evidence of his injuries clearly visible.

The court previously heard that Zahed only had limited vision in his remaining eye due to a cataract and could neither read nor watch television.

Zahed had been kept in solitary confinement since his arrest, and the only thing he had to occupy his time was a CD player.

‘The submission (from Zahed’s counsel) was that I could have some confidence that Mr Tarek Zahed will put his past life behind him and start fresh free from violence, other crime and free from any thoughts of revenge for that , that was done to his late brother and himself,’ said Justice Button.

‘I agree that a positive result is one possibility. But other much more negative futures can also be thought of as possibilities.

‘My ultimate thought on this subject is that you can hope for change, but you can’t be satisfied that it will happen.’

Zahed was sentenced to three years and six months in prison with a non-parole period of two years and four months.

In time, Zahed will be eligible for release on December 27, 2024.