Ghady Almuzain denied bail over alleged role in Cohuna tobacconist arson

A Broadmeadows man has told a Mildura court he was at home at the time police claim he was involved in an arson attack in the state’s north.

Broadmeadows man Ghady Almuzain, 44, has been charged over a tobacco store firebombing in Cohuna on the Vic/NSW border. Picture; Supplied

A Broadmeadows man accused of firebombing a tobacconist in the state’s north has told a court he was at home when the attack allegedly took place.

Ghady Almuzain fronted Mildura Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with two counts of causing criminal damage by fire and three counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

The court heard Mr Almuzain and a co-accused allegedly drove across the state into the small town of Cohuna, near the Victoria/NSW border, in a stolen vehicle convoy and firebombed a tobacconist.

Police said the duo drove one of the stolen vehicles into the shopfront, but couldn’t inflict much damage due to the metal bars on the shopfront window.

Police also claimed Mr Almuzain and his co-accused torched the shopfront and set fire to one of the stolen vehicles which destroyed the tobacconist, causing more than $1m damage.

Mobile phone tower pings allegedly showed Mr Almuzain was travelling between Melbourne and the town of Cohuna in the hours leading up to the attack.

The court heard a still image taken from CCTV allegedly showed Mr Almuzain at a petrol station near where the arson occurred. Police conceded it wasn’t a clear image.

Broadmeadows man Ghady Almuzain, 44, has been charged over a tobacco store firebombing in Cohuna on the Vic/NSW border. Picture; Supplied

“His body shape and bald head can be seen,” Senior Constable Andrew Luke of Taskforce Lunar said.

Mr Almuzain countered, through his lawyer, that he was at home, nor did he have possession of his phone, on the night in question.

“(Mr Almuzain) has given an account exculpatory of his involvement in the offending and he has given an explanation of the phone situation,” Mr Almuzain’s lawyer argued.

“Also, there is no evidence that Mr Almuzain left his residence during the time of the offending.” 

Magistrate Patrick Southey was not moved by the argument, however, calling Mr Almuzain’s version of events implausible.

“I’m sorry, Mr Almuzain, I am not going to grant you bail. Your explanation as to why your phone would appear to be heading to Cohuna and back I find implausible, but you know I could be wrong,” Mr Southey said. 

Mr Almuzain is set to appear at Mildura Magistrates Court on October 9 for a committal mention.