Five men face court after Operation Eclipse arrests

A group of five men have faced court for their part in SA’s escalating tobacco wars.

Five men charged over the alleged South Australian tobacco wars have faced court charged over an alleged assault, which prosecutors say was motivated by interstate syndicate rivalries.

Brothers Sajad Aref Abdul Al Mansoury, 31, Ali Aref Abdul Al Mansoury, 23, and Ahmed Aref Abdul Al Mansoury, 34, appeared in the dock of the Adelaide Magistrates Court after they were arrested on Tuesday.

Two other men, Ayoub Hasan Ali, 33, and Haydarah Kadhem, 23, appeared in the same court hearing via AVL from the cells beneath the courthouse - equally charged.

They have each been charged with causing harm to another with intent and affray after an alleged incident in a Morphett Vale restaurant.

Prosecutors allege that on August 18 the five men attacked one man – and further allege Sajad had hidden a large knife from under a menu “where it had been strategically hidden showing the intent”.

Police conduct raids and make arrests in relation to the illegal tobacco trade. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“He proceeds to punch the victim several times in the head,” the prosecutor said.

It was also alleged Sajad tried to stab the victim but missed.

Each of the five men applied for bail, with Magistrate Simon Smart also hearing Ahmed had last week faced another court charged with money laundering, and had already asked to be released on home detention before being arrested again on Tuesday.

He, alongside the others charged, were arrested for offences police allege relate to the ongoing conflict associated with the illicit tobacco sales in SA and the standover and intimidation tactics allegedly being used by these syndicates.

Ahmed, 34 from Blair Athol, who migrated from Iraq to Australia in 2000 and has three children, currently faces one charge of money laundering amounting to more than $204,750.

“Do you say there is some sort of conflict going on between rival groups?” Magistrate Simon Smart asked.

“The basis is essentially that Mr Al Mansoury is a current occupant (of a store) and people in Victoria are trying to kick him out,” the prosecutor said.

Prosecutors said they were opposed to any of the five men being released on bail, but asked Mr Smart to allow nine months before any future hearing.

“That is for forensic accounting,” the prosecutor said.

“You’ll need to persuade me why that length of time is needed to conduct forensic accounting. Why is that amount of time necessary?” Mr Smart said.

The prosecutor said he didn’t have any instructions on the delay.

Mr Smart agreed to release Ahmed on home detention bail, subject to his wife and sister both submitting a $10,000 cash surety to the court.

Ahmed was due to be released on home detention bail later on Wednesday, with strict conditions not to contact the co-accused men - inclusive of his brothers - and to be fitted with an ankle monitor.

He ordered home detention bail inquiry reports for the four other men, who will remain in custody until November when a decision on their release will be made.

Operation Eclipse is a special task force targeting crime syndicates vying for the “lion’s share” of the illicit tobacco market.

Originally published as Five men face court after Operation Eclipse arrests