Friends mourn Ibrahim Hotak, allegedly murdered in Outback on Eyre Hwy by a friend
Devastated friends of a popular Adelaide father allegedly murdered by a friend and dumped on a remote highway say his death is a “big loss” to the SA community.
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Ibrahim Hotak moved to Australia in 2014 in search of a better life for his young family.
The father of four, whose widow is expecting their fifth child, was known as a loyal mate who loved cricket and helping anyone who needed it.
That included trying to help his accused killer find a job and move house.
The Afghan community is mourning his mysterious Outback death in an alleged murder committed by one of his best friends of several years.
The pair was travelling from Adelaide to Perth on an impromptu trip after the accused murderer asked Mr Hotak for help. It remains unclear why they were travelling to Western Australia but police said it was a social visit not believed to be linked to criminal activity.
The body of Mr Hotak, 29, was found at a rest stop by a passing motorist about 105km west of Nullarbor Roadhouse, near the WA border, at 3.30pm on Monday. He had head injuries.
Five hours earlier, his accused killer had hitched a ride with a farmer, 60km to Yalata, after his hired Holden Trax TJ wagon ran out of fuel on the Eyre Hwy, near Nundroo. When police returned the man to his car, about 160km west of Ceduna, their suspicions were immediately aroused at the sight of blood inside and on the panels of the wagon. Police said a weapon, which they have not disclosed, was found near the car.
A Victorian man, 32, was arrested and charged with murder. He appeared by video-link in Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody until August.
Police prosecutors were granted a suppression order on the man’s identity to allow investigators to analyse DNA, blood and phone evidence.
Friends and family were on Tuesday comforting Mr Hotak’s distraught widow, who is pregnant with their fifth child, at the couple’s West Croydon home.
Mr Hotak and his family moved to Australia from the Afghan capital of Kabul in 2014 on a humanitarian visa, after working as a translator for the Australian Defence Force and receiving threats from the Taliban.
Afghan Cricket Club president Mansoor Hashimi, 30, described Mr Hotak as “the best person I have ever seen – so friendly, so supportive”.
Mr Hashimi said Mr Hotak’s family – including his wife, four children all aged under nine, siblings and mother – were shocked at his death.
“They are so sad and he is a great loss to everyone in the society of South Australia,” Mr Hashimi, who has known Mr Hotak and his family since they arrived in Australia, said.
“He was so happy when he brought his family here and he loved to live here. He was working as an Uber driver and used to work in security (at Royal Adelaide Hospital).
“He always wanted to be with friends and always make others laugh. He was such a nice guy. I can’t believe this has happened.
“Why would someone hurt a person like him? He had such a nice personality. The whole community is in shock. We can’t believe this would happen to a person like Ibrahim. He was one of the great guys and very supportive to the community.”
Mr Hashimi said Mr Hotak was “a great person and a great batsman”, referring to his abilities as a No.3 batsman for the Afghan Cricket Club, of which the pair are founders.
He said he last saw Mr Hotak on Saturday when they played together in a game at Victoria Park in the city, but missed the opportunity to say goodbye to him.
“He loved to play cricket. Whenever there was cricket training, he was always messaging to say ‘I’m available’,” Mr Hashimi said.
He last heard from Mr Hotak on Sunday when he received a message posted to a cricket group that said ‘Bye Adelaide’.
He said Mr Hotak had not discussed with him any plans about travelling to Perth with his accused killer, who moved from Adelaide to Melbourne three weeks ago to find a job. “Ibrahim was always here to support (his accused killer) … trying to find a job for him and help him move house,” Mr Hashimi said.
Afghan National Association of Australia president Raz Mohammad, 32, said he last spoke to Mr Hotak at 5.16pm on Sunday, when he was about 30 minutes south of Port Augusta.
Mr Mohammad said his friend sounded “quite happy” and could not detect anything untoward.
“His sudden trip to that area was a bit unusual to me but Ibrahim was the sort of person who was there for anyone who asked for help,” Mr Mohammad said. “I asked when they would be back and (the accused) said they would be back in about 60 hours. I didn’t ask what type of work they were doing. “I said it was almost three days’ drive out there … and (the accused) said they were driving one day and coming back on a flight. I asked about the car and he said it was a hire car.”
Mr Mohammad described Mr Hotak as “a lovely person”.
“If anybody needed help – not only the Afghan community but any Australian – and he knew he could help, he would be the first person to help,” he said. “I was thinking to appoint him as a community public officer (of the Afghan National Association of Australia) and he said he was happy to do that.”
Farda Association chairman Fahim Hashimy told The Advertiser Mr Hotak was a kind man who never showed any outward signs of aggression.
“He was always a person who wanted to assist and help and make sure everything was perfectly done for any event or anything else we had,” he said.
“That is the sort of person he was. He always wanted to help other people. He was well-known in the community. You would not see any violence or aggression from him.”
Eyre and Western officer-in-charge Superintendent Julie Thomas said there was no evidence the men were involved in criminal activity but could not say if they were known to police.
Supt Thomas refused to discuss a motive, which was the subject to an ongoing investigation.
“We believe they were possibly travelling from Melbourne through to Perth for social reasons and they have been known to one another for many years,” she said.
“Essentially a farmer picked up the gentleman we have charged on the Eyre Hwy, his vehicle had run out of fuel.”
Supt Thomas said any investigation involving the death of a person was traumatic for investigators and emergency services. “I have seen lots of things in my (26-year) career. Not much shocks senior police these days,” she said.
Anyone who has seen the vehicle or the men is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
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