John Ibrahim top guard Tongan Sam snared in drug raid
By Yoni Bashan
July 12, 2009 12:00am
THE bodyguard and right-hand man of nightclub identity John Ibrahim Semi Ngata - known widely by his nickname "Tongan Sam" - was arrested after Gangs Squad detectives swooped on his Merrylands home in April.
He is the chief lieutenant and confidant of Mr Ibrahim, who has been charged by police but never convicted of anything.
Allegations were made at the Wood Royal Commission that Mr Ibrahim was a Kings Cross drug baron but no findings were made against him and he strongly denies any connection to organised crime.
The pair have worked with each other for more than a decade, with Ngata permanently by Mr Ibrahim's side as his top bodyguard and adviser.
Court documents reveal that when officers from Strike Force Raptor entered Ngata's Price St home they found a bullet-resistant vest, ammunition and nearly 700 tablets containing the precursor drug pseudoephedrine, which can be used to make "ice".
Ngata, 51, was charged by police with possessing pseudoephedrine intended to be used in the manufacture of a prohibited drug.
During the raid on Ngata's home, authorities also seized "items of clothing", which are believed to include leather jackets and other paraphernalia related to the ruthless street gang Notorious, the court heard.
Ngata's case was heard before Chief Magistrate Graeme Henson on Tuesday, when the prosecution argued for it to be put over so results of DNA and fingerprint analysis could be returned.
If convicted, Ngata could face a maximum of 10 years behind bars. The arrest is another unwanted distraction for Mr Ibrahim, who insists he is a "legitimate businessman".
It follows the attempted assassination of his brother, Fadi, outside his Castle Cove home in May.
Police were led to Ngata through his son Nimilote, 21, an up-and-coming debt collector and emerging Kings Cross identity who works closely with the Ibrahim family.
More commonly known as "Nim", he is understood to have worked closely with John Ibrahim's older brother, Sam.
Police intelligence on Nim Ngata shows he is a patched member of the Notorious street gang, while his father maintains "links to the same group".
Kings Cross police began their investigation into Nim Ngata following a violent bashing outside the trendy Dragonfly Nightclub, a known haunt of Notorious members, on March 2.
Despite maintaining no financial interest in the Dragonfly, Kings Cross sources told The Sunday Telegraph that John Ibrahim controls the books, staffing and budgeting at the venue.
Court documents allege that just after midnight, Nim Ngata, who was charged with aggravated robbery with wounding, violently assaulted a man outside the Earls Place venue.
The victim, 22, who is "known to police", was allegedly robbed of his wallet, driver's licence, $30 and a Nokia N95 mobile phone before being savagely beaten to the point where he required surgery to his face.
