Abrahim El Tawil, Zac Safattli, Tanisha Sailah, Mongols Eric Vugrac, Harrison Missiris charged
A group of bikies and their lackeys are allegedly linked to tobacco store arson attacks across Melbourne.
South East
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A feared bikie gang is allegedly linked to a series of Melbourne tobacco store arson attacks which left a combined $8 million-plus trail of destruction, a court has heard.
Police alleged Mongols OMCG bikies were targeting small business tobacconists across Melbourne.
Patched Mongols Seckin Koc, 20, Eric Vugrac, 19 and Harrison Missiris, 20, remain locked up after they were charged with various arson offences.
It’s alleged the bikie trio had parts to play in relation to alleged arsons at Pakenham, Deer Park and Patterson Lakes over the last eight months.
It’s alleged the Pakenham inferno occurred inside a Main St store about 1am on August 3 last year.
The Deer Park arson was allegedly sparked inside tobacconist Smokes on Station just after 3am on August 7.
It’s alleged Koc and lackey Abrahim El Tawil, 20, were both involved in the alleged blazes at Pakenham and Deer Park which left a combined $1.2 million-plus damage bill.
Associates Zac Safattli, 20, and Tanisha Sailah, 25 were charged with arson in relation to the Deer Park fire only.
Vugrac and Missiris allegedly left Harbour Plaza shopping centre Patterson Lakes with a $6 million-plus damage bill after deliberately setting alight Dandy Mark tobacconists on February 9.
Police alleged the pair, who are also charged with intentional destruction of property by fire, burglary and possess proceeds of crime, fled the arson scene in a ute.
The court heard the fire spread to a number of other shops at the Thompsons Rd shopping centre including Beer and Wine Co, Domino’s, Crust Pizza, a hair salon and other restaurants.
Police told the court none of the shops were yet to reopen.
The court heard police alleged CCTV captured Mr Missiris on CCTV “loitering” outside the tobacconist alongside another male, believed to be Mr Vugrac, undertaking a “reconnaissance” of the site at 4:30pm.
At 11.30pm police said the pair shattered the entrance of the shop with a silver pole before kicking themselves in.
One individual with a red jerry can “set themselves alight in the process” and rolled on the ground in panic, police said.
A police informant told the court Missiris’ mum “accidentally” told cops her son, a carpenter, had “burned his foot”.
The court was told black trousers and a black balaclava were seized at the scene.
A Brimbank crime investigation unit detective told the court Vugrac and Missiris were fully patched Mongols members based at the northside chapter.
Vugrac, of Coburg North, and Missiris, of Bundoora, were made fully patched Mongols for carrying out the alleged arson, the court was told.
The bikie pair ran failed bail applications earlier this month where Magistrate Ross Maxted said the accused were “proud of their Mongols membership”.
Safattli, of Lalor, was granted bail at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
El Tawil, of Lalor, was denied bail at the same hearing.
The court heard allegations El Tawil was part of an encrypted messaging group called ‘Mongols Prospects’.
Police opposed bail, labelling the attacks on small businesses as “planned organised crime”.
Magistrate Cecily Hollingworth said the strongest evidence against Safattli was a phone conversation on March 14, three weeks after Victoria Police issued a media release calling for witnesses and information on the blaze.
Police alleged Safattli told a friend “they’re red hot” and not to discuss the fire with him over the phone.
“Delete your Snapchat, I’m getting a new phone,” Safattli allegedly said.
It’s alleged Safattli was a driver during the Deer Park arson.
El Tawil joined Koc, of Wollert and Vugrac and Missiris on remand to next face court at a later date.
Sailah, of Craigieburn, was granted bail at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday with a $50,000 surety and conditions she live her grandparents in Campbellfield with a 9pm to 6am curfew.
