The beleaguered former boss of the Burgertory restaurant chain, Hash Tayeh, has transferred ownership of a burger joint to George Sakun, a heroin-addicted car thief, amid a sell-off of now defunct businesses. The transaction has sparked controversy as Sakun, currently on remand over more than 30 drug, theft, and weapon charges, is accused of failing to honor a $500,000 leasing deal.
Hash Tayeh, who founded the Burgertory franchise in 2018, resigned as CEO less than a month after being hit with a $1 million tax bill for debts allegedly run up by 13 companies. Company documents reveal that Tayeh sold Burgertory Mentone, a short-lived burger outlet in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, to 30-year-old Sakun in March 2023. Simultaneously, Sakun replaced Tayeh as director of the company.
The Business Transition and Legal Entanglements
The month following Sakun’s takeover of Burgertory Mentone, Tayeh resigned as director of another 17 businesses, replacing himself with his 23-year-old executive assistant, Ismail Ibn Anass Oumacha. Tayeh has defended these transactions, asserting they were not attempts to evade liabilities associated with the companies.
“I do not and have never avoided obligations,” Tayeh stated. “I am working through every legal and commercial matter transparently and with full engagement.” Despite his assurances, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has liquidated 13 Burgertory-related companies over the past two months. Tayeh, however, maintains that the chain is financially sound, attributing the ATO’s actions to a “campaign of targeted harassment.”
The Rise and Fall of Burgertory Mentone
On March 1, 2023, between two prison stints, Sakun purchased Burgertory Mentone and another company, Wrath BBB, from Tayeh. By then, the burger outlet on Balcombe Road had been closed for a month, having shuttered in February 2023. The outlet, which opened in August 2022, carried a significant ongoing liability—a 10-year lease at $51,000 a year plus GST.
The company has since been deregistered, and the landlord reported to the ABC that no rent has been received since the outlet closed. The space remains empty and is currently for lease. “He [Sakun] abandoned the store without notice, stripping the premises of all equipment and fittings,” Tayeh explained. “Despite having no legal obligation to do so, we stepped in, restored the premises to the landlord’s satisfaction, and funded all agreed repairs in good faith.”
George Sakun’s Legal Troubles
Sakun, who is currently on remand, faced the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court last month, where he indicated his intent to plead guilty to at least 37 offenses, including stealing cars and possessing drugs and weapons. The court heard he had begun but not completed an apprenticeship as a mechanic.
Magistrate Christina Windisch remarked during the hearing, “It seems like he’s running some kind of operation. He doesn’t steal the cars but they come to him to be touched up.” Sakun is receiving regular methadone injections to combat his heroin addiction while serving his third stint in prison. He has been on remand for over seven months to face his current set of charges.
Previously, Sakun was sentenced to 10 months’ jail in December 2021 and two months’ jail in July 2023 for offenses including drug possession, reckless conduct endangering life, possession of a controlled weapon, and theft of a motor vehicle. During a police arrest in January last year, a black Holden Colorado ute worth $25,000 was found in his possession.
Hash Tayeh’s Defense and Future Plans
Amidst these legal and financial challenges, Tayeh announced his resignation as CEO of Burgertory last month following revelations of a $1 million tax debt. Despite the setbacks, Tayeh insists he is being unfairly targeted by the ATO.
“I absolutely believe I am being targeted,” Tayeh told the ABC. “The timing, context, and intensity of the scrutiny are far from standard, especially for a group of businesses that are transparently structured and operated in accordance with advice from professional advisors.”
Tayeh emphasized his commitment to the brand’s integrity and future growth. “I built Burgertory with zero external capital and turned it into a nationally recognized brand. We’ve expanded across Australia and are preparing for our first international store opening.” As the legal proceedings unfold, the future of Burgertory and its associated businesses remains uncertain, with Tayeh determined to navigate the challenges ahead.
