Murder accused on luxury yacht

A FORMER bikie boss was rubbing shoulders with an alleged money launderer on a luxury yacht weeks before he was charged with the murder of a Gold Coast dad, police claim in court documents.

Ex-nomad heavy Haysam Hamdan was found on board charter vessel My Oneworld with Tamem “Timmy” Chandab in Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Day, police allege.

In February, Hamdan was one of three men arrested and extradited to Queensland for the alleged road rage murder of young father Omega Ruston at Burleigh Heads on January 26, 2009. He is yet to enter a plea.

Chandab was “on bail for money laundering offences” totalling more than $250,000, it is alleged in court documents filed as part of Hamdan’s bail application for the death of Mr Ruston.

Chandab allegedly told officers there was no one else on board that would be of interest to the bikie squad, or police.

Police searched the boat and found white powder residue, “suspected to be cocaine” in the back room, it is alleged in the documents.

Further searches of the vessel found nothing.

“Raptor Squad officers identified other persons on board who were spoken with,” the officer said in his affidavit.

Hamdan was among the eight searched, it is alleged.

“Some of these persons are known to police as being involved with organised crime networks and outlaw motorcycle gangs,” it is alleged in the affidavit.

During Hamdan’s bail hearing into Mr Ruston’s death, the Crown claimed Hamdan’s association with Chandab was not a “one off”.

Police allege Mr Ruston, a Gold Coast father, was killed after an altercation with three men in a maroon Nissan hire car.

They claim Hamdan was a passenger in the vehicle, alongside shooter Paul Younan and driver Toni Elbayeh.

Hamdan was granted Supreme Court bail on a $900,000 surety last month and has returned to Sydney to live with his sister.

In police bail material, it is alleged Hamdan was “active” in Middle Eastern organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs, and was previously the vice-president of the Nomads.

Defence barrister Angus Edwards told the Supreme Court during Hamdan’s bail application that his client had “reformed” and lived and worked in NSW with a supportive family.

Chandab, who faces a charge of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, is due in court on April 14. He has not been charged in connection to Mr Ruston’s death, and the Bulletin is not suggesting he is involved.

Hamdan will next appear in court on April 17.