Australia, insurance, car, home, live, holidays

A Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce outside the Melbourne Assessment Prison as they waited for Majid Alibadi to leave on bail.Credit:Jason South

“[The Hamad syndicate is significantly involved in] extreme acts of violence up to and including murder;the importation and distribution of illicit tobacco;extortions,attempted extortions and arsons related to the illicit tobacco industry;[and] burglaries and thefts.”

“[The syndicate is also involved in] the rising tensions and demonstrated extreme violence among the various Melbourne MEOC (Middle Eastern Organised Crime) communities,particularly the Haddara syndicate and the[rival] Marrogi syndicate,that is being driven by historic incidents and for control of the Melbourne and the wider Victorian illicit tobacco market.”

Alibadi faces more than a dozen charges of arson and extortion related to a string of attacks on businesses linked to the Haddara crime family,includingthe Karizma restaurant in Docklands,a Tullamarine function centre and a tobacco shop in Glenroy.

Among the total of 18 charges,there are also counts for dealing with the proceeds of crime,offending while on bail and failing to hand over a PIN code for a mobile phone.

Majid Alibadi gets into the Rolls-Royce after being released on bail from Melbourne Assessment Prison on Monday.Credit:Jason South

During the first part of a bail application last Wednesday,the court heard that Alibadi was suspected of being Hamad’s on-shore lieutenant,who police allege issued orders to unnamed underlings that orchestrateda series of arson attacks.

“My belief is that,to put in somewhat corporate terms,that Mr Alibadi would be best described as the regional operations manager for the Hamad syndicate within Victoria,” Detective Leading Senior Constable Matthew Lindsay told the court.

The detective said Alibadi had been in direct contact with Hamad and other suspected senior members of the syndicate.

“I know that he has been in personal contact with Kaz Hamad,” he said. “I know that they regard him as a leader within the syndicate because of what they said to him.”

The Karizma restaurant was badly damaged in the attacks in November.Credit:Wayne Taylor

Alibadi has also been charged with facilitating the extortion of a Glenroy tobacco shop run by a member of the Haddara family,which involved him allegedly approaching the man with a phone and saying:“Listen to my friend.”

It is alleged that Hamad was on the phone at the time and threatened the Haddara family member.

The court heard that an earlier phone call allegedly involved Hamad threatening the Haddara family member over a statement he gave to police.

Police and prosecutors opposed bail for Alibadi. Lindsay told the court that if he was released,“I believe that we will be strengthening the ability of the Hamad syndicate to influence witnesses,we will be providing them with a valued lieutenant of the Hamad syndicate back out to carry out his will”.

But magistrate Michael Smith released him under a series of strict monitoring conditions.

Alibadi is being represented by top silk Dermot Dann,KC.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

License this article