Bassam Hamzy orchestrates kidnapping, drug ring from Lithgow jail by mobile phone
Amy Dale Court Reporter
The Daily Telegraph
July 27, 2011 12:00AM
BASSAM Hamzy was on the phone getting updates on a kidnapping - and ordering a slap in the face for his victim - all from his jail cell.
A court yesterday heard Hamzy used a phone smuggled into jail to tell one of the kidnappers "can you slap him once in the face" and was told: "I've already done it cuz, I've already chopped him ... I've got blood everywhere, man."
Hamzy yesterday pleaded guilty to orchestrating the kidnapping and also operating a sophisticated drug ring from his Lithgow jail cell in mid-2008.
Hamzy also admitted to 15 other offences that will be taken into account in sentencing, including another kidnapping in which he threatened: "Next time I'll take his ears and make them into a necklace."
The court heard police intercepted Hamzy's phone calls from his jail cell.
"Bassam Hamzy obtained a mobile phone (and) made a number of phone calls organising the sourcing of various prohibited drugs in Sydney and their direction to Melbourne where they were supplied to associates for on supply," a document tendered to court said.
The court was told that Hamzy directed the supply of 2.34kg of methamphetamine on five occasions, with close to 20,000 calls made between May 5 and June 11.
Hamzy also orchestrated the kidnapping of John Baroutas in Adelaide on June 5, 2008 after "an associate" told him the man owed him money.
Court documents reveal that Hamzy was on the phone as two men stormed into Baroutas's house and asked the victim: "Where's my money."
"The victim replies: 'I gave them some, just some now as well'," the documents said.
In another incident which will be taken into consideration on sentence, Hamzy was part of a plot to detain another man and said: "He's lucky I don't put a bullet in his head ... If I ever have to come up there again, I'm gunna cut all his fingers off ... "
Judge Peter Zahra will hear sentencing submissions on September 9.
