A flashy crime boss known for his expensive tastes was heard remarking \u201coh f**k\u201d moments after he was jailed for orchestrating a series of firebombings. <\/p>\n
Majid Alibadi, 27, was sentenced to 5\u00bd years behind bars in the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday after pleading guilty to four charges of arson, car theft and incitement to commit arson.<\/p>\n
At the time of his arrest in early 2024, Alibadi was a trusted leader in the Hamad Syndicate, named after Kazem \u201cKaz\u201d Hamad, which controls a significant share of Victoria\u2019s illicit tobacco market.<\/p>\n
Hamad, who was deported from Australia in mid-2023, is now serving a life sentence in Iraq for drug trafficking.<\/p>\n
Handing down the sentence, Judge Duncan Allen said it was clear Alibadi was \u201cinvolved\u201d with the Hamad brothers at the time, taking orders and issuing tasks to other members. <\/p>\n
Judge Allen said Alibadi had admitted he was involved in the planning of three arson attacks, which were carried out by other, unknown people, at the Karizma Restaurant in Docklands and Melrose Events venue in Tullamarine. <\/p>\n
Owned by underworld figure Fadi Hadarra, who survived being shot in an ambush last month, Karizma was firebombed twice in early morning attacks on November 18 and 20, 2023.<\/p>\n
The court was told an estimated $1.1m in damage was caused, with about 40 residents living in apartments above the restaurant evacuated in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n
Just weeks later, about $1.3m in damage was caused to the Melrose Events space when two unknown offenders broke in and set fire to the building with petrol on December 8.<\/p>\n
In the days prior, Alibadi was caught planning the arson with others and discussing the \u201cneed to recruit appropriate offenders to carry out the job\u201d, the court was told. <\/p>\n
Judge Allen said Alibadi\u2019s brazen crimes were \u201ccarefully planned and executed\u201d to advance the interests of an organised crime syndicate. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis court must send a message by way of the sentence imposed to deter others from committing offences like these in the furtherance of criminal rivalries,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Previously, Victorian courts were told Alibadi was living the high life before his arrest over these crimes, known to frequent expensive restaurants and splash cash at up-market boutiques despite being unemployed.<\/p>\n
When Alibadi was released on bail in February 2024, a rented Rolls-Royce arrived to pick up the gangland figure.<\/p>\n
He was described previously as a high-ranking onshore \u201clieutenant\u201d of Hamad\u2019s operations. <\/p>\n
The court was told Alibadi, born in Melbourne to two \u201cdecent, law-abiding\u201d parents, had since been diagnosed with complex PTSD traced back to his father\u2019s decision to move the family to Iraq when Alibadi was 12 years old to care for his elderly father.<\/p>\n
Judge Allen said Alibadi had experienced \u201cfrequent examples of extreme violence and horror\u201d and, by the time the family returned to Australia when he was 15, he was addicted to illicit drugs.<\/p>\n
Judge Allen told the court Alibadi had completed a lengthy rehabilitation program and received psychological help while on bail for these offences. <\/p>\n
The judge said he accepted Alibadi\u2019s background was linked to his offending by impacting his ability to exercise proper judgment. <\/p>\n
Previously, the court was told, he had cut ties with the Hamad Syndicate and expressed a \u201cgenuine desire\u201d to not return to a life of crime. <\/p>\n
Alibadi will be eligible for parole after serving three years in prison.<\/p>\n