Tobacco syndicate middleman jailed over rival arson campaign

Sentence handed down

A man who orchestrated a series of arson attacks and car thefts linked to a rivalry between organised crime syndicates has been jailed in Victoria. Majid Alibadi, 27, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years, in the Victorian County Court on Wednesday.

Alibadi had pleaded guilty to four charges of arson, car theft and incitement to commit arson, and appeared via video link as Judge Duncan Allen delivered the sentence. The Canberra Times reported Alibadi stared straight ahead as the judge described his offending as extremely serious.

"This court must send a message by way of a sentence to deter others from offences like this in the furtherance of criminal rivalries," Judge Allen said.

Role in the Hamad syndicate

The court heard Alibadi was a senior onshore lieutenant in the Hamad organised crime syndicate, named after Kazem "Kaz" Hamad, who was deported from Australia in mid-2023 and is now serving a life sentence in Iraq for drug trafficking. According to PerthNow, Judge Allen said Alibadi was clearly "involved" with the Hamad brothers, taking orders and issuing tasks to other members.

The Canberra Times reported that Alibadi acted as a liaison for the Iraq-based Hamad, providing updates, planning activities, engaging foot soldiers to carry them out, and providing feedback afterwards. He incited, assisted, encouraged and directed others to commit arsons against a rival crime family and to steal cars.

The arson attacks

The court was told Alibadi admitted involvement in planning three arson attacks at the Karizma Restaurant in Docklands and the Melrose Events venue in Tullamarine. Both were carried out by other, unknown people.

Karizma, owned by Fadi Hadarra, who survived being shot in an ambush last month, was firebombed twice in early morning attacks on November 18 and 20, 2023. PerthNow reported the court was told an estimated $1.1 million in damage was caused, with about 40 residents living in apartments above the restaurant evacuated in the middle of the night.

Just weeks later, on December 8, two unknown offenders broke into the Melrose Events space and set fire to the building with petrol, causing an estimated $1.3 million in damage. In the days before, Alibadi was caught planning the arson with others and discussing the need to recruit suitable offenders to carry out the job, the court was told.

Judge Allen said Alibadi's crimes were "carefully planned and executed" to advance the interests of an organised crime syndicate. Two stolen getaway cars used in the attacks were also torched, and Alibadi was involved in the thefts of two more cars worth more than $50,000 in total, according to The Canberra Times.

Police said Alibadi had multiple conversations with those behind the firebombings in the preceding days, arranging for items to be purchased and delivered to the men who carried out the attacks, The Canberra Times reported.

Background and rehabilitation

Both outlets reported on Alibadi's background and the judge's acceptance that it played a role in his offending. Judge Allen accepted that Alibadi's perception, judgement and reasoning were "impaired to some degree as a result of traumatic incidents," pointing to expert evidence about the offender's traumatic upbringing in Iraq, where he witnessed extreme violence at the height of Islamic State activity.

PerthNow reported that Alibadi was born in Melbourne to "decent, law-abiding" parents, moved to Iraq when he was 12, and returned when he was 15. He was diagnosed with complex PTSD traced to his time in Iraq, and had struggled with addiction to illicit drugs.

Despite this, Judge Allen found Alibadi's rehabilitation prospects were positive. The judge noted he had completed a rehabilitation program and received psychological help while on bail, and that his background had impacted his ability to exercise proper judgment.

Defence barrister Dermot Dann KC said his client had turned his life around, had cut ties with Hamad, and had demonstrated "exceptional" rehabilitation, living at home with his family, starting a relationship, obtaining work and following strict bail conditions, The Canberra Times reported.

"This was organised criminality, not a low-level minion," the prosecution said, according to The Canberra Times.

Alibadi has served 76 days in custody and could be released on parole in mid-2029, The Canberra Times reported. PerthNow reported he is eligible for parole after serving three years.