John Ibrahim

Ibrahim is the second of four sons and two daughters born to Wahiba Ibrahim and her husband[3] Often referred to as the "Ibrahim brothers", the eldest son is Hassan "Sam" (b. c. 1966), followed by John, Fadi (b. c. 1974), and the youngest son is Michael (b. c. 1979).[4]

At age 16, Ibrahim witnessed the brother of Bill Bayeh being attacked by two men. Ibrahim became involved and ended up receiving a large knife wound to his torso;[2] and was treated at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney and placed into a coma for three weeks, followed by six months' recovery in the hospital, due to extensive damage to his lungs, liver, and intestines.[5] The stabbing resulted in a large scar.[2]

Aged 18 years old,[4] Ibrahim opened his first nightclub in Kings Cross, taking a 20% stake in a club then known as Tunnel Cabaret. Ibrahim sold the club in 2001 and its name changed to EP1; with police unsuccessfully taking legal action to have the venue closed, alleging it was part of organised drug activities in Kings Cross. In 2004, new owners relaunched the Earl Place club as Dragonfly[2] then it came again under Ibrahim's ownership, renaming it The Tunnel before closing down permanently.[6] Ibrahim is allegedly associated with a minimum of 17 nightclubs in Sydney's Kings Cross.[2][4]

In 1992, Ibrahim left home, aged 22 years, and rented a Dover Heights cliff-side property of 528 square metres (5,680 sq ft). Less than ten years later, he purchased the property for $1.165 million. In 2008, the house was worth $3 million and has subsequently undergone significant redevelopment.[2] Ibrahim owns two other properties in the same street, purchased for $2.5 million in 2007, one of which is leased to Kyle Sandilands, a radio and TV personality and business partner of Ibrahim's.[7]

Ibrahim has allegedly provided bank guarantees to various family members and holds property in his own name or in the name of companies associated with him. He has provided a $112,000 guarantee to his sister, Maha Sayour, in 1997 for her South Wentworthville home and acquiring a Merrylands property worth $253,000 in 2004 for allegedly no-cost.[4] In his most recent public property purchase, in 2010 Ibrahim purchased a housing development site at Rothbury in the Hunter Valley for $275,000.[4]

Following an incident in April 2011 involving NRL Roosters players Todd Carney and Anthony Watts, the NSW Government ordered an inquiry into whether the Trademark hotel, located in Kings Cross and owned by Ibrahim, breached laws on the responsible service of alcohol. The inquiry follows the December 2010 incident involving John Hopoate, who was subsequently convicted of the assault of a patron outside Trademark. It was reported that since July 2009 over 529 assaults have occurred either at Trademark, with Trademark security staff involvement or near the venue. Trademark is presently subject to a reduction in trading hours, restricted patron numbers, and increased security by scanning patrons with metal detectors.[8]

Ibrahim has been labelled by the Australian news media as "Teflon John" and "The Teflon man of Kings Cross" as well as also being known as "The King of the Cross"[5] due to his ability to avoid being convicted of illegal activities, despite widespread public suspicion. As a teenager, he was convicted of assault, but has not been found guilty of any crime since then.[9]

During the Wood Royal Commission, Ibrahim was identified by Counsel assisting the Commission, John Agius SC, as the new "lifeblood of the drugs industry of Kings Cross".[2] During a 2004 trial, Ibrahim was identified as "the subject of 546 police intelligence reports in relation to his involvement in drugs, organised crime and association with outlaw motorcycle gangs".[10] During 2001 and 2002, a police strikeforce Sombra gathered intelligence claiming that Ibrahim was allegedly extorting a number of bars and nightclubs in the Kings Cross and Darlinghurst area up to $5,000 per week each, claiming a beneficial financial interest in club takings and allegedly applying standover tactics. It was reported that police investigations were allegedly compromised by officers from the New South Wales Crime Commission when Ibrahim was informed that his Dover Heights home was bugged. Ibrahim commenced legal action in the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal and sought access to the intelligence reports on him. His application was refused and police never charged Ibrahim for the alleged offences.[11] Ibrahim was implicated in subsequent investigations during 2003 and 2004 by Task Force Gain from the NSW Crime Commission, targeting violent crime in southwest Sydney.[12]

In 2006, the NSW Crime Commission seized assets, including his Dover Heights home, on the balance of probabilities that Ibrahim had allegedly engaged in criminal activity. Subsequent orders were made in the Supreme Court that Ibrahim pay to the State $150,000 without admission of guilt.[12] On payment of the order, the Commission removed its restraining order over the assets.

In 2017, some of his sons were having a holiday in Dubai, UAE and they were arrested for doing drugs. They were deported to Australia.[13]

• Ibrahim, John (25 July 2017). Last King of the Cross. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-1-76055-495-8.
• Nowra, Louis (2013). Kings Cross: A Biography. NewSouth. ISBN 978-1-74224-156-2.
• Morton, James; Lobez, Susanna (2011). Gangland Sydney. Melbourne University Publishing. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-522-85870-9.
• Morton, James; Lobez, Susanna (2010). Gangland Australia. Victory Books. ISBN 978-0-522-85737-5.
• Morton, James; Lobez, Susanna (1 September 2009). Dangerous To Know: An Australasian Crime Compendium. Melbourne University Publishing. ISBN 978-0-522-85944-7.

• Last King of the Cross