A young plumber charged over the execution of Hamad Assaad allegedly scoped out the crime figure's movements before reporting back the location to his killers.
Twenty-four-year-old Osama Hawat was stirred from his sleep before dawn on Thursday when homicide detectives and riot squad officers came banging on his door.
More NSW News Videos
- Video duration
- 00:36
Man arrested over alleged murder of Hamad ...
Man arrested over alleged murder of Hamad Assaad
A 24-year-old man has been arrested in Greenacre in connection with the execution of crime figure Hamad Assaad.
Up Next
Woman dies in horrific car crash
- Video duration
- 00:15
- Video duration
- 00:15
Woman dies in horrific car crash
Woman dies in horrific car crash
Police are looking for three people who fled the scene of an accident which has left a women dead in Chester Hill in Sydney's West.
Up Next
Teens arrested in counter-terrorism raid
- Video duration
- 00:29
- Video duration
- 00:29
Teens arrested in counter-terrorism raid
Teens arrested in counter-terrorism raid
Arrested suspects allegedly sold guns to undercover cops and had an enormous amount of cocaine in their possession.
Up Next
A look at Punchbowl through the decades
- Video duration
- 01:07
- Video duration
- 01:07
A look at Punchbowl through the decades
A look at Punchbowl through the decades
From the 1950s to now, see how Punchbowl has transformed.
Up Next
Dark sky at night, astronomers' delight
- Video duration
- 02:05
- Video duration
- 02:05
Dark sky at night, astronomers' delight
Dark sky at night, astronomers' delight
Australia got its first dark sky park last year at the Warrumbungle National Park. Dark Sky Parks co-operate with surrounding communities to minimise light pollution and encourage tourism.
Up Next
Mervyn Bishop exhibition celebrates photographer's career
- Video duration
- 03:15
- Video duration
- 03:15
Mervyn Bishop exhibition celebrates ...
Mervyn Bishop exhibition celebrates photographer's career
Indigenous photographer Mervyn Bishop's work is on display at the Art Gallery of NSW from June 24 until October 8, 2017.
Up Next
'Dark web drug dealer' arrested
- Video duration
- 00:26
- Video duration
- 00:26
'Dark web drug dealer' arrested
'Dark web drug dealer' arrested
A man has been arrested and charged in Tempe this morning, following an investigation into illicit drug dealing on the so-called 'dark web'.
Man arrested over alleged murder of Hamad Assaad
A 24-year-old man has been arrested in Greenacre in connection with the execution of crime figure Hamad Assaad.
Mr Hawat was arrested at the Greenacre home he shared with his wife before detectives poured inside to search the duplex.
He was charged with murder and participate in a criminal group.
It comes eight months after Mr Assaad, a well-known crime figure investigated for multiple shootings, was shot dead at his Georges Hall home.
The 29-year-old was getting ready to take a relative to school when two gunmen jumped out of a black Audi and shot him at least a dozen times.
They sped off in a car later found burnt out next to a park in Birrong.
According to police allegations, Mr Hawat allegedly carried out surveillance on Mr Assaad and was seen driving past his house on four occasions leading up to the shooting. Mr Hawat is accused of relaying that information to Mr Assaad's killers.
His lawyer Ahmed Dib said his client maintained his innocence and the allegations were circumstantial.
"He says he had nothing to do with the murder and the allegations against him are to put pressure on him so he might be able to squeal on other people," he said outside court.
Investigators suspect Mr Assaad, a man disliked by many, was killed in revenge over his rumoured role in the shooting of crime kingpin Wally Ahmad last year. The convicted killer was gunned down outside a gym at Bankstown Central on April 29, 2016.
Police believe at least four people, including two shooters, a getaway driver and a lookout, were involved in Mr Assad's killing six months later.
It is understood Mr Hawat is friends with the Ahmad clan, a well-know and powerful family in the south-west.
Mr Hawat's wife was in tears as he appeared briefly in Bankstown Local Court on Thursday afternoon.
No bail application was made and the case was adjourned to August 23.
The arrest marked a significant step forward in the gangland hit investigation.
At least four fatal shootings in the past 14 months, including Mr Assaad's, have links to a violent conflict between feared families in Sydney's south-west.
Safwan Charbaji, a friend of Mr Assaad's, was shot dead outside Wally Ahmad's Condell Park smash repairs in April 2016.
Weeks later Wally was hit.
On October 25 Mr Assaad, the suspected trigger man in Wally's death, was allegedly murdered.
Finally, in March, a trusted Ahmad family confidant, Kemel "Blackie" Barakat, was shot several times in his bed at his Mortlake unit.
Barakat was a suspect in Mr Assaad's shooting.
Mr Hawat's white work van, allegedly seen driving past Mr Assaad's house, and a black Audi were searched extensively outside his home on Thursday morning.
Homicide squad Detective Chief Inspector Angelo Memmolo foreshadowed future arrests.
"Investigations are continuing and will continue to bring those others to the court and to account," he said.