Ex-soldier in Sydney gangster's extradition case goes missing before court appearance

A former soldier involved in the contentious extradition of an accused Sydney gangster to Australia has become uncontactable, just days before he is set to give evidence in court.

Masood Zakaria, an alleged boss of the Alameddine crime family, claims the ex-SAS officer, Nathan Heckel, is a key witness in his bid to have murder charges dismissed. Mr Zakaria was charged with the 2021 murders of Salim and Toufik Hamzy and was apprehended in Türkiye in 2023.

Mr Zakaria's lawyers have previously described his deportation back to Australia as a "kidnapping". They are seeking a permanent stay on his charges, which could be a first in New South Wales for someone accused of murder.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) paid over $1 million to security company Hart International, which employed Mr Heckel as a contractor to escort Mr Zakaria to Sydney.

However, court documents reveal that attempts to reach Mr Heckel for evidence have been unsuccessful. His online profiles have vanished, and a process server who visited his address was told he may be in Iraq on business.

"We need to remember that these are high-value targets that are not just having an impact on our country, they're having an impact on a number of countries, including usually the country that they're living or residing in," AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said in a recent interview.

When asked about the use of private security firms, Commissioner Barrett noted that the agency predominantly works with law enforcement partners but also uses private contractors in certain cases.

The case is set to hear from senior crime fighters, including Commissioner Barrett, her predecessor Reece Kershaw, and NSW Police's Jason Weinstein and Grant Taylor.