Masood Zakaria launches court challenge against AFP over deportation to Australia

Masood Zakaria, a 31-year-old underworld figure, has begun a court challenge against the Australian Federal Police (AFP) over his deportation from Türkiye back to Australia. He is charged with the 2021 murders of Salim and Toufik Hamze.

Mr. Zakaria's lawyers claim he asked to be deported to Iraq and that the AFP paid $1.1 million to a private security firm, Hart International, to bring him back to Australia. The court heard that Mr. Zakaria was deported from Türkiye before his appeal against his removal had been decided.

"The AFP normally investigates sham payments, but here it engaged in one for its own benefit," Mr. Zakaria's barrister, Murugan Thangaraj SC, said. "Why all the secrecy if this was all above board? Why the absence of Australian officials on the plane?"

Mark Conroy, who was the head of an investigation looking into the Alameddine crime family in 2021, was the first to give evidence on Monday. He was shown emails from the attorney-general's office warning that Mr. Zakaria's prosecution could be jeopardized if he was deported.

The courtroom showdown will hear from some of Australia's most high-profile law enforcers, including former AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw. The case has previously explored a growing rift behind the scenes between the AFP and NSW Police at the time.

Internal documents previously tendered in court revealed how the AFP opted to keep their NSW Police counterparts out of the loop about its plans over concerns of leaks and so it could solely take the credit. The court is this week expected to hear from senior NSW Police figures about what they knew about the plans to bring Mr. Zakaria back to Sydney.

The hearing before Justice Edward Muston continues.