Spotlight on security contractor as $1m 'kidnapping' case heats up

A Sydney gangster's extradition case has taken a dramatic turn as new revelations emerge about the involvement of a global security firm. Masood Zakaria, accused of murdering two members of the Hamzy crime family in 2021, is at the center of the controversy. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) paid Hart International, a Cyprus-based security company, $1.1 million to secure his return from Turkey in 2023.

Zakaria's lawyers claim his deportation from Turkey was illegal, leading to the unprecedented legal challenge in the NSW Supreme Court.

The spotlight in this case is on Hart International, one of two companies the AFP paid to locate Zakaria. The company has a history of working with the AFP, having been contracted for 26 years. Two of these contracts involved transferring other Australian fugitives, though their identities remain undisclosed. Hart International is also linked to the 2016 Beirut child kidnapping scandal, where a reporter was arrested after a child was snatched during a story.

The case exposes tensions between the AFP and NSW Police, with documents revealing officers' concerns about the relationship. Hart International's CEO testified in court, stating that the company has been providing security services to the AFP for two decades. The CEO also mentioned that the company was paid to transfer two other Australian fugitives, though their identities were not disclosed.

One of the most contentious issues in the case is the legality of Zakaria's deportation from Turkey. Prosecutor Chris Tran admitted during proceedings that Zakaria was "prohibited" from being removed from the country, marking a crucial point raised by his defense team. The case is still unfolding, with more senior law enforcement figures yet to provide their testimony, including AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett and her predecessor, Reece Kershaw.