A Sydney tow-truck driver accused of transporting a car linked to the brazen daylight execution-style murder of former bikie boss Mahmoud "Mick" Hawi has been granted bail.
Moustafa Salami, 39, of Brighton-Le-Sands, is charged with being an accessory after the murder of Hawi, who was shot as he sat in his luxury four-wheel drive outside a Sydney gym in February.
His co-accused, alleged Lone Wolf motorcycle club members Yusuf Guney Nazlioglu, 37, and Ahmad Doudar, 38, are charged with murdering Hawi for money and are expected to apply for bail on Thursday.
In Sydney's Central Local Court on Tuesday, magistrate Beverley Schurr granted Salami strict conditional bail after finding the crown case against him was not strong "at the moment".
His lawyer, John Stratton SC, described it as "non-existent", saying the crown alleged his client had transported a silver Toyota Aurion on the back of his tow truck two days after the murder.
But he said there was no evidence Salami, whose business involved towing, had any knowledge it was allegedly connected to the murder.
Salami did know his two co-accused but "guilt by association is not a basis on which to refuse bail", he said.
The prosecutor opposed bail, alleging that Salami was linked to a second car, a black Toyota Prado, which was seen in the area of the gym days before the shooting.
He asked why the Toyota Aurion - said to be in working order - needed to be moved on a tow-truck but Mr Stratton said it was not registered at the time and he was instructed that the car key could not be located.
He referred to Salami's strong community ties, noting he was married and had a large extended family including nine siblings in Australia and no close family overseas.
Bail conditions imposed by Ms Schurr include daily reporting to police and two acceptable persons agreeing to forfeit $250,000 each if bail is not complied with and to deposit security for their home.
Salami is also banned from being involved in the tow-truck or storage of cars businesses.
His case was adjourned to October 11.
Australian Associated Press
