Former Manly Sea Eagles sponsor jailed over major cocaine bust
By Kate McClymont
March 6, 2020 — 6.28pm
A former high-flying entrepreneur, who allegedly supplied cocaine and prostitutes to Manly rugby league players, has been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years' jail for supplying commercial quantities of cocaine.
Robert "Robby"Melhem, 46, rolled his eyes and said "f--- me," as District Court Judge Antony Townsend handed down his sentence on Friday.
Robby Melhem has been jailed for selling drugs in an undercover sting.
Melhem, once a sponsor of the Manly Sea Eagles through his now-failed mobile phone company, was arrested on August 17, 2017, after selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.
Ten days before his arrest Melhem sent the officer a text on an encrypted BlackBerry: "Mate I just got 22 loose vacuum sealed Pure mother pearl kegs. (Cooks 97%) u can have for $185,000. Can give u tonight and pay me next week."
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Over the next few days Melhem supplied the officer with five kilograms of pseudoephedrine, a precursor chemical used to make ice, and more than two kilos of cocaine, which were in brick shaped packages wrapped in plastic with a ‘Red Bull’ symbol stamped on them.
Melhelm supplied an undercover officer with two "bricks" of cocaine with a Red Bull stamp.
He was arranging to supply another 10 kilos of pseudoephedrine and more cocaine when he was arrested at Bicentennial Park, Homebush. Police also seized 22kg of cocaine, bearing the same Red Bull insignia, from an apartment in Pyrmont.
Melhem's fall from grace has been dramatic. He was once a sponsor of Manly and at one stage, a prospective buyer. Sources have told the Heraldthat during his sponsorship of the NRL club, which finished several years ago, Melhem was supplying cocaine and prostitutes to some players as well as making cash payments to some in breach of salary cap regulations.
Melhem was such a popular figure at the club that it was at his harbourside mansion with its tennis court and swimming pool that the family, teammates and supporters of Brett Stewart gathered in September 2010 to celebrate the Manly star's acquittal of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
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Robert Melhem, right, with Brett Stewart after the 2008 grand final.
Escort agency "7th Heaven Escorts" listed its business address at Melhem's five-bedroom Kirribilli home, which he sold in March 2014 for $6.7 million.
In retirement former Manly captain Ben Kennedy and Melhem went into a property development venture on the outskirts of Cairns and, in more recent years, Melhem was offering to help Anthony Watmough with business opportunities.
It is not suggested that Stewart, Watmough or Kennedy were involved in any wrongdoing in connection with Melhem.
Melhem also had a number of colourful business partners including brothel owners, bikie gang members and convicted cocaine dealer Joe Frangieh, with whom Melhem was involved in a Queensland property company.
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Frangieh’s father was murdered in a drive-by shooting in 2003. However, police said at the time the targets were his drug-dealing sons Raymond and Joe.
At the time of Melhem's arrest, two of his closest family friends offered to put up bail for him. One was Frangieh’s sister Sonia and the other was Frangieh’s wife, Sharon.
March 6, 2020 — 6.28pm
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A former high-flying entrepreneur, who allegedly supplied cocaine and prostitutes to Manly rugby league players, has been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years' jail for supplying commercial quantities of cocaine.
Robert "Robby"Melhem, 46, rolled his eyes and said "f--- me," as District Court Judge Antony Townsend handed down his sentence on Friday.
Robby Melhem has been jailed for selling drugs in an undercover sting.
Melhem, once a sponsor of the Manly Sea Eagles through his now-failed mobile phone company, was arrested on August 17, 2017, after selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.
Ten days before his arrest Melhem sent the officer a text on an encrypted BlackBerry: "Mate I just got 22 loose vacuum sealed Pure mother pearl kegs. (Cooks 97%) u can have for $185,000. Can give u tonight and pay me next week."
Advertisement
Over the next few days Melhem supplied the officer with five kilograms of pseudoephedrine, a precursor chemical used to make ice, and more than two kilos of cocaine, which were in brick shaped packages wrapped in plastic with a ‘Red Bull’ symbol stamped on them.
Melhelm supplied an undercover officer with two "bricks" of cocaine with a Red Bull stamp.
He was arranging to supply another 10 kilos of pseudoephedrine and more cocaine when he was arrested at Bicentennial Park, Homebush. Police also seized 22kg of cocaine, bearing the same Red Bull insignia, from an apartment in Pyrmont.
Melhem's fall from grace has been dramatic. He was once a sponsor of Manly and at one stage, a prospective buyer. Sources have told the Heraldthat during his sponsorship of the NRL club, which finished several years ago, Melhem was supplying cocaine and prostitutes to some players as well as making cash payments to some in breach of salary cap regulations.
Melhem was such a popular figure at the club that it was at his harbourside mansion with its tennis court and swimming pool that the family, teammates and supporters of Brett Stewart gathered in September 2010 to celebrate the Manly star's acquittal of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
Advertisement
Robert Melhem, right, with Brett Stewart after the 2008 grand final.
Escort agency "7th Heaven Escorts" listed its business address at Melhem's five-bedroom Kirribilli home, which he sold in March 2014 for $6.7 million.
In retirement former Manly captain Ben Kennedy and Melhem went into a property development venture on the outskirts of Cairns and, in more recent years, Melhem was offering to help Anthony Watmough with business opportunities.
It is not suggested that Stewart, Watmough or Kennedy were involved in any wrongdoing in connection with Melhem.
Melhem also had a number of colourful business partners including brothel owners, bikie gang members and convicted cocaine dealer Joe Frangieh, with whom Melhem was involved in a Queensland property company.
Advertisement
Frangieh’s father was murdered in a drive-by shooting in 2003. However, police said at the time the targets were his drug-dealing sons Raymond and Joe.
At the time of Melhem's arrest, two of his closest family friends offered to put up bail for him. One was Frangieh’s sister Sonia and the other was Frangieh’s wife, Sharon.
