The lawyer representing Sydney bikie boss Sam Ibrahim has described a decision by the Federal Government to deport him as “stupid politics”.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has signed papers ordering Ibrahim’s deportation on the grounds he has failed the Government’s character test for foreign nationals.

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Ibrahim, who is in jail charged with running an illegal firearms syndicate, was born in Lebanon and came to Australia as a child.

His lawyer Brett Galloway said he had not been briefed by his client and was surprised by the deportation decision.

“From what I now know, it sounds like stupid politics by another stupid politician,” Mr Galloway said.

Mr Galloway said his client has never been convicted of anything he would regard as “up there”.

Mr Galloway said Ibrahim had previously been convicted of intimidating a police officer and threatening a business partner.

He said the current charges, related to running an illegal firearms syndicate, “have no substance; they are just police allegations, as usual with Sam”.

Ibrahim has been involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs for years and is the older brother of John Ibrahim, known for his links to the seedier side of Kings Cross.

NSW Council for Civil Liberties president Stephen Blanks said the Government’s decision would mean Ibrahim would not face justice for his alleged crimes.

“If he’s found guilty, he would’ve served jail time in Australia and now we’re proposing to let him free. That just seems bizarre,” he said.

“Never before has someone been deported or proposed to be deported before they even serve time for any criminal offences they’ve committed. That seems inappropriate.

“For the Minister to make the decision himself that somebody is guilty of a criminal offence and then apply the character test … is really an abuse of our system.”

Ibrahim has 28 days to appeal against the decision.

In June, Mr Dutton said 415 criminals had had their visas cancelled this year after not meeting the character requirements.

He said of the group, 57 had been “removed from Australia”.