Comanchero bikie Hasan Topal investigated over bungled murders
Public tip offs have led police to almost solving two bikie hits, which saw two innocent men killed, with a male model turned Comanchero bikie a person of interest.
Police & Courts
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Senior Comanchero bikie Hasan Topal is being investigated over two bungled murders and a wave of other gun attacks.
A Herald Sun investigation has found Topal is a person of interest in homicide squad inquiries into the killings of Muhammed Yucel and Zabi Ezedyar three months apart in 2017.
The victims – described by police as innocent men – died at the hands of killers whose intended targets were linked to the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang.
Detectives have been quietly running major operations on the murders and say the “shambolic” hits have opened doors for them.
Detective Inspector Tim Day said the investigation had been aided by brave individuals providing information to police.
“Two innocent young men lost their lives due to the callous stupidity, cavalier attitude to violence and utter incompetence of members of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang,” Inspector Day said.
“The actions of one individual in particular has brought scrutiny upon the club, and we know there is angst among members of the club because of this.
“I think the murders are solvable and we’re very, very close.”
They have established a cloned number plate used on a vehicle connected to the Yucel murder was printed at a northern suburbs gym operated by a senior Comanchero.
Members of the hit team left the plate and other evidence intact when they failed to fully incinerate a black Jeep Cherokee, later found at Cranbourne.
Inquiries have also confirmed a Toyota Camry owned by a close associate of the senior Comanchero was used by those mixed up in the Yucel slaying on the night of May 2.
Another car, believed to be a Toyota Corolla, later travelled to the Great Ocean Rd where one of two murder weapons was dumped.
It was later recovered by police and linked to the crime.
Farshad Rasooli, a former Mongol who lived in the same Keysborough street where Mr Yucel was shot, is believed to have been the intended target that night.
Police say there were two shooters and at least four Comancheros were involved, the murder team returning to the northern suburbs in multiple vehicles.
Mr Ezedyar died as he visited a Narre Warren property occupied by Mohammed “Afghan Ali” Keshtiar, a senior Mongol heavily involved in recruiting for the gang.
He was shot from a car by a single gunman who opened fire without making any attempt to confirm he had the right man.
Ballistic tests have matched the handgun used in the Ezedyar killing of August 16 with a series of other shootings in the same period.
They include one the previous month in which a senior Bandido bikie and a clubmate were wounded when a shooter opened fire from a vehicle as members rode across the Bolte Bridge together.
Former top Comanchero Mark Balsillie was weeks later wounded when shot multiple times in a Melbourne ambush.
Police say that in June of that year the weapon was also used to shoot up a Richmond business being stood over by Comancheros.
Police will not publicly speak about individuals under investigation over the shootings, but the Herald Sun has confirmed Topal – a former male model – is under scrutiny.
Topal, who rapidly ascended the Comanchero hierarchy in the period after the shootings, headed overseas in 2019 after a stretch in prison and has not returned.
Balsillie is now a high-ranking and well-connected member of the Mongols.
Rasooli and Keshtiar, both considered violent offenders, would be mindful they were meant to be in the gunmen’s sights when the bullets flew.
Detective Sergeant Rod Stormonth, of the homicide squad, said those involved in the killings should give serious thought to coming forward while they were still free to do so. “Get in first, before we come and grab you,” he said.
“We’re dealing with two innocent people here and two innocent families. This investigation will not stop.”
KILLED FOR BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME
Plenty of effort and precious little planning went into the 2017 murders of Muhammed Yucel and Zabi Ezedyar.
These unfortunate young men died for nothing more than being visitors in streets being stalked by the kind of criminals who had probably never been into doing homework.
Neither victim even looked particularly like the shooters’ prey.
Mr Yucel was mistaken for hulking bikie Farshad Rasooli, who had been shot previously.
Investigators believe the two suspects who shot Mr Yucel would not have even got a look at his face before opening fire.
The 22-year-old had spent the night of May 2 playing computer games in a mate’s garage at the back of a Church St, Keysborough, property when he decided to head home. He lifted a roller-door and was met with shots to the chest.
They continued to fire as Mr Yucel’s mates, who were also wounded, dragged down the door. Police say the gunmen had probably miscalculated the number of garages at the back of the street before striking.
Mongols OMCG figure Mohammed Keshtiar is believed to have been the man who was meant to be eliminated instead of 26-year-old Mr Ezedyar.
He was shot from a car by someone who failed to make even the most rudimentary attempt at a positive ID.
The Yucel foul-up did not end with shooting the wrong victim.
A partially burnt Jeep Cherokee used in that killing was later found at Cranbourne.
Investigators know the false plates on the Jeep are linked to one of their main suspects.
The homicide squad has been running parallel operations into the Yucel and Ezedyar killings.
Investigators will not talk about the identities of suspects but say there is a common shooter in both murders.
That man, they told the Herald Sun, is a senior Comanchero also responsible for a series of non-fatal shootings in the same period.
Those shootings, and the Ezedyar killing, were committed with the same handgun, police say.
They would not comment on the suspected involvement of Comanchero strongman and former model Hasan Topal.
“Behind all of them is the same firearm. Motivation is linked to the same suspect,” said Leading Senior Constable Sean Campbell.
“It has exposed anyone with anything to do with any of those jobs.”
Topal left Australia in the period after he did a jail sentence over a savage 2017 brawl at a Canberra strip club in which Comancheros from Victoria and NSW fought one another.
He smashed a glass into his forehead and ripped off his shirt before joining the fight in the Capital Men’s Club.
Topal, 31, was released in 2019 and is believed to have flown out of Australia the same year.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.gov.au.
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