An associate of the Alameddine crime family has been sentenced to a maximum five-year term over what a judge described as a “professional attack on a journalist”.

Tufi Junior Tauese-Auelia, 39, pleaded guilty to his involvement in the targeted firebombing in November 2022 of the Bondi rental home of political commentator and YouTube satirist Jordan Shanks, known online as FriendlyJordies.

Tauese-Auelia also pleaded guilty to a vicious attack in July 2022. On that occasion, a man was severely beaten by Tauese-Auelia and others armed with baseball bats. The victim suffered a fractured eye socket, lacerations and a broken elbow.

“I would just like to apologise from the bottom of my heart,” Tauese-Auelia told the court. “I’m over this life. Your Honour, I’ve wasted so many years in jail”.

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