Lawyer Mahmoud Abbas wants to prevent police from looking at laptop after Greenacre shooting in southwest Sydney
A lawyer who was shot outside his home has made an attempt in court to prevent police from accessing his work laptop.
Mahmoud Abbas was shot several times outside his home in Greenacre, southwest Sydney, on Wednesday morning.
The well-known lawyer underwent three surgeries and is expected to make a full recovery.
Police rushed to the crime scene after the shooting and seized Mr Abbas’ laptop and other devices as part of an ongoing investigation.
Mr Abbas on Monday made an urgent request to the NSW High Court to prevent police from having unrestricted access to his devices, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Mahmoud Abbas was shot several times outside his home in Greenacre, southwest Sydney, on Wednesday morning
Abbas is expected to make a full recovery after being shot multiple times. He has had three surgeries
The devices are believed to contain sensitive information from some of his clients related to pending lawsuits that are subject to attorney’s professional secrecy.
A court order was issued to allow Mr Abbas or his legal representative to be present while investigators search his devices.
The lawyer was also said to have been kidnapped and had his head and eyebrows shaved clean in a menacing display of force as part of Sydney’s burgeoning gang war in 2022, before the shooting last week.
Mr Abbas has not been charged with any wrongdoing and there is no suggestion that he has any links to criminal activity.
After the Greenacre shooting, surgeons had to remove a kidney from Mr Abbas.
Another bullet passed through his leg, narrowly missing his kneecap.
Mahmoud Abbas (left) is a leading Sydney criminal lawyer
Mr Abbas was shot on the same street where underworld figure Mahmoud ‘Brownie’ Ahmad was shot dead while visiting an associate in April 2022.
Daily Mail Australia understands that police are investigating witness statements that a suspicious Toyota Yaris was parked in the street shortly before Abbas was shot.
Mr Abbas specializes in criminal justice and has represented a range of prominent Sydney identities, including former deputy mayor of Auburn Salim Mehajer and accused members of an ISIS-inspired terror cell.
The petition for Mr Abbas’s case will be heard on Friday.