College Student’s Secret Double Life as a Ruthless Hitman

In 2016, Sydney was shaken by a wave of violent crimes so calculated and brutal they left the city reeling. At the heart of this storm was Abuzar Sultani, known in the shadows as “Abs” or “The Boss.” By day, Sultani was a promising MBA student at Macquarie University, but by night, he was the mastermind of a ruthless criminal syndicate that terrorized Sydney’s streets. This article unravels the chilling story of a man whose double life as a scholar and a cold-blooded hitman would make him one of Australia's most infamous criminals.

Table of Contents

• The Rise of Abuzar Sultani: Scholar by Day, Kingpin by Night
• From Mentor’s Death to Syndicate Leader
• The Murders That Shattered Sydney’s Underworld
• Methods of Terror: Stealth, Secrecy, and Savagery
• Pasquale Barbaro: The Final Victim
• Law Enforcement Strikes Back: Strike Force Osprey and the Fall of the Syndicate
• The Unveiling of Encrypted Secrets and Sentencing
• Conclusion: The End of a Reign of Terror
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Rise of Abuzar Sultani: Scholar by Day, Kingpin by Night

Abuzar Sultani lived a paradoxical life. His polite demeanor and academic excellence at university masked a sinister underworld empire he commanded. Despite being a teetotaler and philanthropist who donated to charities aiding his war-torn homeland, Sultani’s path was darkened by crime. His criminal journey began with a botched ATM heist that landed him in prison. Upon release, he entered the construction industry, guided by his mentor Joe Antoun. However, tragedy struck in 2013 when Antoun was assassinated, a mystery that compelled Sultani to step deeper into Sydney’s violent underworld.

From Mentor’s Death to Syndicate Leader

Following the assassination of Joe Antoun, violence escalated. One of Sultani’s couriers was attacked, signaling the beginning of a brutal retaliation. In Redfern, Sultani orchestrated a savage beating of Nicholas Serbin, a betrayal that ended in Serbin’s death. This act cemented Sultani’s ruthless reputation.

Seeking strength in numbers, Sultani joined the Rebels bikie gang as a nominee, straddling two worlds while nurturing ambitions for his own empire. By 2015, he had established control over a Burwood chapter, from which he ruled with an iron fist.

The Murders That Shattered Sydney’s Underworld

June 23, 2015, marked a deadly turning point. Mark Easter, entangled in the syndicate’s web, approached Sultani with a proposal to source drug precursors. A $50,000 debt soured their dealings. When Easter brandished a gun during their tense meeting, Sultani acted with deadly precision, shooting Easter multiple times. Easter’s body was later found submerged in bleach and ice, an attempt to erase the evidence of this cold-blooded murder.

By 2016, Sultani had fully broken from the Rebels, forming his own gang with Siya Munshizadeh, Mirwais Daneshiar, and Joshua Baines. Known by many names—the Afghanis, Abz Boys, Murder Crew Thirteen—this group became contract assassins for hire, their brutality unmatched.

Methods of Terror: Stealth, Secrecy, and Savagery

The syndicate’s operations were marked by cunning tactics. Stolen cars were given new identities with cloned number plates, and encrypted Phantom BlackBerry phones ensured their communications remained secret. Safe houses scattered across Sydney stored weapons, drugs, and ammunition ready to unleash chaos at any moment.

Among their victims were Michael Davy, known as “Ruthless” or the “Prince of Penrith,” who was shot dead in March 2016 outside Nepean Hospital. Davy had been considering leaving the Rebels, a move that may have sealed his fate.

Mehmet Yilmaz’s murder in September 2016 was tied to a $20,000 debt and conflicts involving biker gang members. Outside the home of a Comanchero gang member, Yilmaz was fatally shot in front of his fiancée, leaving the community in shock.

Pasquale Barbaro: The Final Victim

On November 16, 2016, Sultani and his crew executed a meticulously planned hit on Pasquale Barbaro. CCTV footage documented the cold-blooded attack: four shots fired from a moving vehicle, followed by a chase where Sultani delivered the fatal shots. The syndicate then burned the getaway car to destroy evidence, vanishing into the night.

Law Enforcement Strikes Back: Strike Force Osprey and the Fall of the Syndicate

The murders triggered a powerful law enforcement response. Strike Force Estop was initially formed to investigate these violent crimes, deploying covert listening devices and GPS trackers to monitor Sultani's movements.

Following Barbaro’s murder, Strike Force Osprey was launched to unravel the web of eight underworld murders connected to the syndicate. Police executed thirteen search warrants in a coordinated sting at Olympic Park, capturing Sultani and his associates Siya Munshizadeh, Joshua Baines, and Mirwais Daneshiar.

The Unveiling of Encrypted Secrets and Sentencing

After years of silence under non-publication and suppression orders, detectives decrypted the gang's Blackberry communications, exposing damning evidence. Sultani confessed to five murders, making him one of Australia’s most prolific killers.

• Twenty years imprisonment for the murder of Nicholas Serbin.
• Guilty plea for the murder of Mark Easter, whose body was found with four gunshot wounds.
• Three consecutive life sentences without parole for the murders of Michael Davy, Mehmet Yilmaz, and Pasquale Barbaro.

Other gang members received lengthy sentences: Siya Munshizadeh received a life sentence, Joshua Baines 36 years, and Mirwais Daneshiar 15 years. Justice Fagan highlighted the extreme callousness of these crimes, emphasizing the need for life sentences to protect the community and serve as a deterrent.

Conclusion: The End of a Reign of Terror

As the gavel fell, Sydney breathed a collective sigh of relief. The syndicate that once cast a dark shadow over the city’s streets was dismantled. Abuzar Sultani and his cohorts now face the consequences of their ruthless actions behind bars. This chilling story serves as a stark reminder that beneath the surface of ordinary lives can lurk unimaginable darkness.

Stay vigilant and informed, for in the battle against crime, knowledge is a powerful weapon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Abuzar Sultani?

Abuzar Sultani was a mid-20s MBA student by day and a ruthless criminal kingpin by night. He led a violent syndicate in Sydney responsible for multiple murders.

What was the "Abz Boys" or "Afghanis" gang?

The group led by Sultani, also known as the Afghanis or Murder Crew Thirteen, was a violent crew involved in contract killings, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities.

How did the police catch Sultani and his gang?

Police used covert listening devices, GPS tracking, CCTV footage, and decrypted encrypted Blackberry phone messages to gather evidence and arrest the gang members.

What sentences did Sultani and his associates receive?

Sultani received multiple life sentences without parole for five murders. His associates also received lengthy prison terms ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment.

What impact did these crimes have on Sydney?

The murders caused widespread fear and prompted large-scale police operations to dismantle the syndicate, ultimately restoring a measure of safety to the community.