Alleged Hamad foot soldiers launch bid for bail
A dispute at a party in Bali allegedly led to a series of home invasions, arson attacks and shootings in Melbourne, with a 17-year-old teenager blowing smoke and leaking water from a bullet hole in his neck.
Details of the dispute were revealed at the bail hearing on Thursday for Ahmad Taha and Waile Omer, two “foot soldiers” with alleged ties to tobacco magnate Kazem “Kaz” Hamad.
Two 18-year-old youths and an unnamed 17-year-old were arrested on Wednesday following seven targeted home invasions, arson, attempted arson and shooting incidents since the beginning of January, allegedly related to an apparent personal dispute that quickly spiraled out of control. Two more people were arrested as part of the operation, but they were later released without charge.
It all started on a flight to Bali on December 29, when a group of young men from Melbourne encountered a woman on board who invited them to a party on the popular holiday island.
Detective Senior Constable Ed Roberts, from the gang crime squad, testified during the hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court: “While she was at the party, they got into a dispute with a man there who was friends with the woman.” “It is not known exactly what resulted in the dispute, but the woman’s partner, Ali Ramos, took offense to the dispute.”
The court later heard Ramos was an organized crime figure involved in the Hamad organisation. He remains abroad and no criminal charges have been filed.
“[Ramos] “He essentially informed the men that they would have to pay a $250,000 extortion fee for his crime,” Roberts said. “And if they didn’t, they would be targeted when they returned to Melbourne.
“A group of men returned to Melbourne and were actually targeted one by one through their contacts in Victoria.”
The attacks allegedly began with a serious home invasion using a stick and machete in Caroline Springs, a day after the men returned to Melbourne.
There was no one at home because they had fled to an undisclosed location for their safety.
But when police arrived, they recorded a WhatsApp conversation between the intended victim and someone believed to be Ramos.
According to the police, “[Ramos] ‘Why did you take your family out? I would tell the kids to cut off his head. I said: make a video. Cut off your fingers.’”
Two days later, a house in Taylors Hill was nearly set on fire in a firebombing attack. That same day, shots were fired at the house in Caroline Springs.
The following evening the house in Taylors Hill was destroyed by a firebomb.
What followed was a violent home invasion in Thornhill Park; The bedroom door was broken and a gun was thrown into the space.
A flashback to this alleged spree occurred on January 12, when Triple Zero received reports of a man knocking on doors in Burnside Heights and asking for help after being shot in the neck.
The arson victim was staying on the street with a friend, himself one of the men from Bali, when a car appeared with men “wearing dark clothes, hoods and masks” and carrying jerry cans.
What happened next is still unclear.
Police started a search of the area and found a bag containing a firearm, a silencer and bullets.
A 17-year-old male was located following a foot chase.
“[He] Roberts said he was uncooperative to some extent. “It was obvious that he was in a state of shock due to a bullet that entered his neck and lodged in his vertebrae. It was remarkable that he could even walk.
“The police called for an ambulance, the ambulance examined the wound on his neck, assessed that it was superficial and cleared the scene.
“Shortly after [he] He was smoking and the police could hear a whistling sound coming from his neck. “He was given some water and water started dripping from the hole in his throat.”
The 17-year-old was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He was later charged and taken to Juvenile Court.
About two weeks later, masked men approached a home in Hillside and threw a gas canister at the door. There was another man inside from the group that went to Bali.
When no one answered the door, a gas canister was thrown at a car in the driveway. It was alleged that when a man started looking out of the house, two attackers opened fire and shot 11 times, including at the neighbor’s house.
The defendants were arrested on Wednesday and sent to prison.
Roberts said Taha was placed in a cell with an undercover agent, where he confessed to arson, arson and attempted home invasion and that he was “working for some pretty bad guys.”
Roberts said Omer made separate admissions to police alleging he participated in extortion charges against several tobacco dealers in Melbourne, including handwritten notes distributed to tobacco dealers telling them to call an overseas number.
“The perpetrators of these incidents are essentially foot soldiers of the Hamad serious organized crime syndicate,” Roberts said.
“in Bali [Ramos]We believe he is part of an organized crime syndicate. They have significant access to capital, funds from illicit tobacco, and firearms.
“We have serious concerns that attacks will continue, given that it is offshore that this pattern of violence against victims will continue. We believe it will not stop.”
Roberts said investigations are ongoing and he expects more charges to be filed.
The decision on the couple’s bail application will be made next week.
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