Claims alleged tobacco boss sent $270k: court

An accused baccy warfare ringleader Majid Alibadi is seeking to beryllium released from custody conscionable days aft $270,000 was allegedly delivered to his home, a tribunal has been told.

Mr Alibadi, 25, smiled astatine loved ones arsenic helium was escorted into the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court connected Wednesday wearing a matching grey Nike sweatshirt and sweatpants for a 2nd bail application.

Police allege helium is simply a trusted person of the “Hamad Syndicate” successful Melbourne’s bluish suburbs, carrying retired orders from Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad, who was deported from Australia successful July past year.

Mr Alibadi was arrested successful January and accused of orchestrating a bid of 4 firebombings, which caused millions successful harm to a Docklands restaurant, Glenroy baccy store and Tullamarine wedding venue successful the 2nd fractional of past year.

He is facing 24 charges, including 9 counts of arson and 5 counts of recklessly engaging successful behaviour that places persons successful information of death.

In court, Detective Leading Senior Constable Matthew Lindsay of the Luna Taskforce revealed a covert instrumentality had been installed successful Mr Alibadi’s car for 3 months arsenic constabulary investigated the desecration of Meshilin Marrogi’s crypt.

Ms Marrogi was the sister of convicted execution and cause kingpin George Marrogi — who led what Detective Lindsay described arsenic the rival “Marrogi Syndicate”.

Mr Alibadi has not been charged with immoderate offences related to the July 30 Preston cemetery burglary.

The Luna Taskforce was acceptable up successful October past twelvemonth aft much than two-dozen firebombing attacks swept the state, allegedly implicit power of the illicit baccy trade.

Detective Lindsay alleged the covert instrumentality recorded extended conversations with Mr Hamad connected “everything from illicit baccy importation to girlfriends”.

“It’s the content of constabulary that Mr Alibadi acts arsenic the cause of the syndicate successful Melbourne,” helium said.

“The accused is simply a person who receives tasking from apical level members.”

The tribunal was told helium was bailed connected February 19 nether the information helium deterioration a tracking instrumentality and comply with each conditions of the Australian Forensic Therapeutic Rehab radical (AFTR) program.

But Mr Alibadi was rearrested little than 2 weeks aboriginal aft a constabulary raid connected his location allegedly recovered him not wearing the wrist-based tracker.

Detective Lindsay told the tribunal constabulary were present probing AFTR arsenic portion of a perjury probe and alleged the wrist instrumentality had nary tracking, nary alert if tampered with and could beryllium removed.

He further alleged that connected April 26, a parcel was delivered to Mr Alibadi’s Epping location containing much than $270,000.

The tribunal was told Mr Alibadi’s member was arrested and interviewed, claiming the wealth had travel from Mr Hamad’s brother, Maytham, to wage his “legal fees”.
Detective Lindsay confirmed nary charges had been laid implicit the alleged currency parcel.

Detective Lindsay said Mr Alibadi had been charged with caller offences, including allegedly facilitating the arson of 2 cars pursuing a botched Donnybrook location penetration connected January 7.

He said the home’s resident, who allegedly had links to organised crime, changeable and killed a location invader, with the survivors allegedly reaching retired to Mr Alibadi.

“Our friends accidental to pain them,” the accused antheral allegedly said aft speaking with Mr Hamad.

Detective Lindsay told the tribunal constabulary volition allege Mr Alibadi was unemployed but had costly tastes – including a $30,000 buying travel astatine Fendi successful 1 day.

“Apart from regular purchases, helium is known to predominant costly restaurants; Nobu was a favourite,” the detective said.

“He has a manner of alibis.”

Detective Lindsay strenuously opposed bail, saying constabulary were acrophobic helium whitethorn beryllium a menace to witnesses, had entree to “significant” quantities of cash, and the means to fly the country.

He said the proprietor of the Glenroy baccy store had allegedly received a decease menace connected February 2 demanding helium rescind his constabulary statement.

Mr Alibadi’s barrister, Dermott Dann KC, told the tribunal his lawsuit had a “prima facie” entitlement to bail and had been approved for a three-month stint astatine a residential rehabilitation facility.

“It’s an antithetic concern … helium retains that bail connected the immense bulk of the charges,” helium said.

He told the tribunal his lawsuit had experienced a 23-hour lockdown successful situation owed to interest for his safety, flagging it could beryllium 2 and a fractional years until a trial.

Mr Dann said his lawsuit was not alleged to person committed immoderate further offences since his archetypal assistance of bail and had shown a willingness to person intelligence wellness and cause treatment.

He argued that portion connected bail for the AFTR rehab program, helium was described arsenic a “model client”.

The proceeding was adjourned by Magistrate Megan Casey aft prosecutors raised scepticism of the prime of an appraisal of Mr Alibadi’s suitableness for residential rehabilitation.

“All I’ve been fixed is simply a two-page missive … fixed that the defence haven’t seen immoderate appraisal that goes beyond this I’m highly sceptical,” authoritative Neville Rudston said.

“The past supplier is undergoing a transgression investigation.”

Mr Alibadi is expected to instrumentality to tribunal for a continuation of the bail exertion adjacent week.