Source : Perth Now news
A criminal taskmaster who directed arson attacks on rivals on behalf of an underworld tobacco kingpin has cut ties with the organisation and turned his life around, a court has been told.
Majid Alibadi, 27, was a middleman in the illicit tobacco syndicate allegedly run by boss Kazem “Kaz” Hamad out of the Middle East.
As an “upper-level manager”, he held “positive” relationships with Kazem and a relative, and orchestrated firebombings and car thefts across Melbourne, prosecutor Deanna Caruso said.
Ms Caruso said Alibadi acted as a “liaison” for the Hamads and would plan attacks, counsel henchmen, procure items to help them complete their tasks and provide feedback.
These included two arsons on the Karizma restaurant in Docklands in November 2023 and the Melrose reception centre in Melbourne’s northwest that December, totalling more than $2 million in damages.
He was also involved in multiple car thefts.
Alibadi has pleaded guilty to arson, incitement and thefts of motor vehicles and appeared before the Victorian County Court on Wednesday for a pre-sentence hearing.
While not alleged to have lit fires, the prosecutor said he was seen in their vicinity.
The Hamad and Alibadi families had a long-running association, stemming back to the same village in Iraq, defence barrister Dermot Dann KC said.
But that connection between his client and the Hamads had severed since Kazem was imprisoned in Iraq and the relative was in custody in Western Australia, Mr Dann said.
Alibadi had been earmarked by prison authorities as a vulnerable inmate to be kept in solitary confinement due to his connection to the Hamad family, his barrister said.
He referred to a report where Alibadi spoke of his criminal associations and his desire to start afresh.
In the two-and-a-half years since his arrest, Alibadi has been living at home with his family, started a relationship, obtained work and been following strict bail conditions.
“Your Honour should be satisfied his rehabilitation (prospects) are exceptional,” Mr Dann said.
The defence argued for a combination jail term and community corrections order, citing Alibadi’s remorse, refusal to deflect blame and acknowledgement of the harm inflicted.
But prison was the only option for such serious offending, the prosecutor said.
“This was organised criminality, not a low-level minion,” Ms Caruso said.
She urged the judge to send message to deter similar “dangerous, intrusive and brazen attacks, carried out in furtherance of a syndicate”.
Judge Duncan Allen said he will consider Alibadi’s serious offending, which would usually attract a significant prison sentence, and the powerful mitigating circumstances, which could justify exceptions.
He however revoked Alibadi’s bail ahead of sentence on September 2.
The offender hugged and kissed supporters after the hearing, having walked into court wearing a Dolce & Gabbana sweater.
