Alleged victim in trial over plot to cut off his tongue, fingers claims he was friend of Saddam Hussein

The trial of three men accused of a brazen plot to cut off a man’s tongue or fingers for $25,000 has taken a bizarre twist with bombshell claims that the alleged victim was a close personal friend of Saddam Hussein. During his second day on the stand in the trial against Bradley Humble, Aaron Hart, and Minh Duy Nguyen — who are all accused of conspiring to carry out the attack — Sabah Al Salem was forced to tell the WA District Court of his ties to the former Iraqi dictator. Mr Humble, a former police officer turned powerlifter, and his mate Mr Hart are accused of pretending to be cops in a bid to enter Mr Al Salem’s Canning Vale house in September 2022 to torture him. Mr Nguyen is accused of devising the plan and approaching Mr Humble, whom he knew through powerlifting, with the job. During Wednesday’s trial, Mr Humble’s lawyer, Michael Perrella, told the jury his client had only gone to Mr Al Salem’s house that night to “pressure” him to hand himself into police after Mr Nguyen made serious allegations against him. He told the court Mr Nguyen claimed Mr Al Salem had raped his cousin, who has since taken her own life. During his evidence on Wednesday, Mr Al Salem told the court — through an interpreter — that he used to be an official in Iraq before he moved to Australia. Under cross-examination on Thursday, Mr Perrella asked him to elaborate, prompting Mr Al Salem to respond that “it was not related” to this trial. But Judge Charlotte Wallace told Mr Al Salem that he had to answer Mr Perrella’s questions. “I was very close to Iraqi president Sadam Hussein; I was his friend,” Mr Al Salem said through an interpreter. “Before the occupation. I had that role for 16 years.” When asked if it was a high-ranking position, Mr Al Salem replied: “Nearly”. Mr Al Salem was also asked if he maintained regular ties to the Iraqi government, to which he replied, “No”. But when asked who he was on the phone with before the alleged attempted attack, Mr Al Salem revealed he was on WhatsApp with Saddam Hussein’s personal lawyer. In his evidence, Mr Al Salem told the court when Mr Humble and Mr Hart came to his door that night, Mr Humble told him they were there to search his safe and for him to hand over his weapons. He said he then queried why they didn’t know the guns had already been handed in. The court was told in the months before the alleged attack, WA Police had requested Mr Al Salem to hand over several firearms he kept in his safe at the house after five violence restraining orders were taken out against him. Mr Al Salem also rejected the suggestion by Mr Perrella that Mr Humble accused him of being a rapist when he answered the door and that he claimed to have information proving it telling the court: “No he didn’t say that to me.” The trial continues.