Nobu, $270k cash and a number plate to taunt police: The high life of tobacco war accused

One of exiled gangland brag Kaz Hamad’s alleged cardinal Melbourne lieutenants bought the customized fig sheet “MEOC” successful an evident gag astir police’s allegation helium was a notorious “Middle Eastern Organised Crime” figure.

The flashy beingness and alleged crimes of Majid Alibadi, who constabulary allege is Hamad’s “regional operations manager”, were laid bare during an exertion to revoke his bail successful the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court connected Thursday.

Majid Alibadi gets into the Rolls-Royce aft being released connected bail from Melbourne Assessment Prison successful February.Credit: Jason South

The tribunal was told the 25-year-old, who is facing much than 20 charges related to his alleged engagement successful the alleged “tobacco war”, leads a luxury manner marked by a sensation for good eating astatine Nobu, Fendi buying sprees, luxury Mornington Peninsula accommodation and archetypal people aerial travel.

“I judge Nobu is simply a favourite. When helium was successful custody and offered a repast helium asked if Nobu was available,” Detective Leading Senior Constable Matthew Lindsay said. “He besides tended to be precocious worth manner outlets … connected 1 juncture helium spent $30,000 astatine Fendi.”

The tribunal was besides told Alibadi was precocious mailed $270,600 successful currency from a apical subordinate of the Hamad syndicate to wage for his “defence”.

Hamad has emerged arsenic 1 of the astir almighty caller kingpins successful Melbourne’s underworld aft being released from jailhouse successful mid-2023 and deported to Iraq.

Kazem “Kaz” Hamad successful astir 2015.

From a unafraid basal successful the Middle East, Hamad has been linked by constabulary quality and grounds successful tribunal proceedings to dozens of firebombings and suspected of engagement successful astatine slightest 2 murders successful a combat for control of Melbourne’s illicit tobacco and cause trade.

Lindsay testified for astir 2 hours connected Thursday astir Alibadi and his relation successful the Hamad syndicate, which has allegedly progressive Alibadi planning, orchestrating oregon facilitating firebombings, witnesser intimidation and robberies.

Police person applied to revoke Alibadi’s bail aft helium had been released successful mid-February implicit his alleged engagement successful organising arson attacks connected businesses owned by rivals successful the Haddara transgression family.

Loading

Alibadi was infamously picked up from the Melbourne Assessment Prison upon his merchandise connected February 17 successful a Rolls-Royce that is suspected to person been sent by his alleged boss, Hamad, arsenic a reward. The Rolls sped disconnected from the CBD accompanied by associates driving a Lamborghini.

Alibadi was re-arrested successful April aft allegedly committing a bid of different crimes, including failing to adhere to bail monitoring conditions.

Lindsay alleged said Alibadi’s lavish manner and relation arsenic a cardinal “agent” for the Hamad transgression syndicate had been uncovered, successful part, due to the fact that of a “bug”, oregon listening device, planted successful his car betwixt October and January arsenic portion of an probe into the attempted theft and desecration of the assemblage of transgression fig George Marrogi’s sister and concern spouse Meshilin “Mesh” Marrogi from a mausoleum successful July past year.

The recordings, arsenic good arsenic messages from encrypted apps recovered connected 1 of Alibadi’s phones, allegedly showed him successful changeless connection with Hamad, his member and alleged cardinal lieutenant Maytham Hamad and assorted different associates.

This included creating an encrypted chat known arsenic “The Crime Family Group”.

The tribunal was besides told Hamad has a nickname – “Old Mate” – among members of his crew.

Lindsay alleged Alibadi was profoundly progressive successful orchestrating the arson attacks, including keeping a “stable” of stolen cars astir the metropolis for underlings and associates to usage successful firebombings and burglaries.

It was besides alleged that Alibadi was implicated successful covering up a location penetration successful Donnybrook successful January wherever an subordinate had been killed, suggesting the anticipation of “silencing” immoderate imaginable witnesses oregon residents with CCTV footage.

Loading

Lindsay said constabulary had “grave concerns” astir Alibadi being fixed bail again. “The content was, and inactive is, that Mr Alibadi acts successful a mode which is reckless and disregards the information of members of the assemblage and helium encourages others to bash the same.”

He said Alibadi “actively encouraged radical to interfere with witnesses” and helium instructed associates to fly from constabulary by “driving connected the incorrect broadside of the roadworthy astatine 150 kilometres an hour”.

“We person him successful his car, speaking with Maytham, speaking with Kaz, receiving direction, giving absorption and determination is simply a nonstop nexus betwixt those occurrences and the fires … They person entree to tremendous fiscal resources,” Lindsay said.

A transgression probe was besides being conducted into the backstage institution Australian Forensic Treatment Rehabilitation Pty Ltd (AFTR) that supply bail monitoring and rehabilitation services arsenic a effect of grounds gathered during the probe into Alibadi’s alleged bail violations, Lindsay said.

Alibadi’s barrister Dermot Dann, KC, is warring the bail revocation, arguing his lawsuit should alternatively beryllium sent to a residential attraction facility.

The proceeding continues.

Get the day’s breaking news, amusement ideas and a agelong work to enjoy. Sign up to person our Evening Edition newsletter.

Most Viewed successful National

Loading