EXCLUSIVE
A tradie accused of abandoning his wife during a trip abroad shared photos of himself sightseeing and picnicking with friends around the world, while she is said to be thousands of miles away from home without her passport left behind.
Ali Rahimi, 29, is said to have flown out of Sydney with his wife, 28, on July 8 last year after tricking her into thinking they were going abroad to visit family.
The pair traveled to Afghanistan – where he is originally from – for a family holiday before heading to Pakistan to visit her family.
Rahimi, who allegedly had control of their tickets, passports and other travel documents, then told her he was going back to Afghanistan to visit his friends.
The woman, who Daily Mail Australia has declined to name, is said to have learned in September 2023 that he had returned to Australia without her.
She was allegedly left helpless in Pakistan without any identification, in an apparent case of what prosecutors are now calling “exit smuggling.”
Photos posted online four days after the couple left Australia show Rahimi enjoying a milkshake with a male friend at a restaurant in Herat, northwestern Afghanistan.
It was just the beginning of his globetrotting adventures, including a recent trip to Bali and Istanbul, Turkey, Facebook photos show.
Ali Rahimi enjoyed a trip to Bali in July this year – after allegedly dumping his wife in Pakistan without her identity documents
Days after reportedly leaving his wife, 29-year-old Rahimi (pictured left) is photographed in Afghanistan on July 12 last year
On July 8, 2023, Rahimi allegedly trafficked his wife (pictured) out of Australia by tricking her into leaving the country.
Photos on social media document Rahimi’s adventures in the days that followed his first trip to Afghanistan, exploring the countryside with friends.
Photos of the group show them dressed in Perahan Tunban – a traditional Afghan men’s outfit consisting of a tunic top and trousers – as they pose next to a car next to a rural field in Qalat, in the south-east of the country.
Other photos taken during the same road trip show Rahimi and his friends standing next to an agricultural field with grapes in their hands, dipping their feet in a river, enjoying a picnic and visiting historical sites in Bamyan, 466 km north of Qalat.
Two weeks later, on August 26, Rahimi shared another photo of himself standing in front of a rock wall as he continued his sightseeing adventure in the Middle East.
The following week he had moved to a new destination – Karbala, in Iraq – where he posted photos of himself marching through the streets with thousands of pilgrims as part of a religious event.
Since Rahimi reportedly returned home without his wife later that month, he has continued to travel abroad, including trips to Bali and Turkey in July this year.
His wife contacted AFP in November with her claims, prompting an investigation.
Photos posted online in August 2023 show Rahimi on a road trip through Afghanistan with some friends
The group stopped at a watering hole to dip their feet in a stream
They also enjoyed a picnic lunch and some drinks they brought with them in a thermos
Rahimi is pictured posing outside the access road to Bamiyan City, a three-hour drive west of the capital Kabul
The AFP worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to help the woman return safely to Australia.
Rahimi was arrested by Australian Federal Police officers last Wednesday, nine months after officers first raided his Auburn home in Sydney’s west, where they reportedly seized passports, phones and travel documents.
The tiler was charged with one count of trafficking a person from Australia by deception, which carries a maximum penalty of 12 years behind bars.
During Rahimi’s bail hearing at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, his lawyer Lisa Dao disputed allegations that her client had control of his wife’s travel documents.
Ms Dao said Rahimi’s wife was able to access her documents during the trip.
The court heard that Rahimi plans to fight the charges as Ms Dao disputed prosecutors’ concerns that her client was a flight risk.
Ms Dao told the court that Rahimi only went abroad for a holiday in July after the trip was cleared by federal agents.
She added that he runs a tiling company and has family living in Sydney.
Later in August 2023, Rahimi shared another photo of himself posing in a spot in the Middle East
Rahimi is pictured taking part in a pilgrimage to Iraq last September
Rahimi is photographed in Turkey during a holiday in July
Police opposed Rahimi’s bail application, claiming the case against him was strong.
However, Rahimi was released on bail on the condition that he does not contact his wife or her relatives.
As part of his bail conditions, he must also report to police three times a week and surrender his passport.
He will appear in court again at a later date
It comes as AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias made a blanket statement on exit smuggling, describing it as a serious criminal offense that is often under-reported.
“Exit smuggling may involve an individual using coercion, deception or threats to organize or facilitate another to leave Australia,” Detective Tsardoulias said.
“No one has the right to force or deceive anyone from leaving Australia, or to prevent them from returning against their will.
“We want victims to know that the AFP is there to help them and that their safety and well-being is our primary concern as we investigate these cases.
‘Each case is handled with compassion and great care, with the needs of the victim always paramount.’
If you suspect that you or someone else is experiencing or at risk of modern slavery or human trafficking, call the AFP on 131 237.
Ali Rahimi leaves Burwood Court on Wednesday after being granted bail
Rahimi was arrested by AFP officers on Wednesday morning