Maytham Hamad: Brother of alleged gangland boss accused of interstate illegal tobacco racket fails in bail bid

The brother of an alleged tobacco wars kingpin has failed in his bid to secure home detention bail, with the judge raising concerns about allowing him to return him to the WA community. Maytham Hamad — the sibling of Kazem Hamad, who was arrested in Iraq in January — was remanded in custody in November after being charged with knowingly dealing with $1 million or more in crime proceeds. The 31-year-old is accused of running an illicit tobacco and money laundering network across WA, Victoria and NSW and is yet to enter a plea on the serious Commonwealth charge. His recent court appearances have been focused on trying to get bail and he’s also undertaking civil proceedings against the WA Commissioner of Police over the confiscation of his luxury Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon worth more than $200,000. Mr Hamad also had two Lamborghinis and other luxury items seized as part of a national investigation into a string of fire bombings and shootings in WA. On Friday, Supreme Court of WA Justice Bruno Fiannaca refused Mr Hamad bail - and his reasons cannot be made public due to a broad suppression order prohibiting publication of the evidence or submissions. Mr Hamad appeared via videolink from the maximum-security Casuarina Prison and appeared upbeat initially, doing a thumbs up when asked if he could hear the proceedings. But he seemed downcast when the judge denied him freedom. “I have come to the conclusion bail should be refused,” Justice Fiannaca said. It is alleged Mr Hamad oversaw a network of stores in Armadale, Byford, High Wycombe and Medina, and sent the cash profits interstate “using nominee accounts, encrypted messaging and postal deliveries”. Between August and September, police say they intercepted nine parcels containing about $1.7m in proceeds of crime. They further allege that more than 45 parcels containing more than $8m were sent to Victoria.