Who is Mohammed Keshtiar? Here’s what we know about the man shot in South Yarra

Mohammed Keshtiar — the man gunned down in a South Yarra alleyway — was a “blight on society”, a scheming drug dealer and just days away from an appearance in court.

Mohammad Akbar Keshtiar was gunned down in a South Yarra alleyway this weekend, but was lucky not to have been shot sooner. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Gangland figure Mohamed Keshtiar was due to front court just days before he was gunned down in South Yarra.

“Afghan Ali”, a notorious ex-Mongols recruiter, had two matters listed in magistrates’ court this month, including charges brought by the bikie-busting Echo Taskforce.

Keshtiar was also scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday over matters involving the Public Order Response squad.

The details of the charges the slain gangster was facing are unclear.

It comes as one former gangland detective described Mohammed Keshtiar as “blight on society”, making a name for himself in Melbourne’s underworld scene as a scheming drug dealer and gun runner before his demise at a South Yarra alleyway.

Born in Afghanistan, “Afghan Ali”, as he was known, migrated to Australia with his family at age 19, bringing with him a familiarity of guns from a young age and a new found love of drugs.

His first affray came in May 2000 where he assaulted a security guard at the Dome nightclub in Prahran, which he was convicted for.

He and a friend had fought with staff inside the venue before walking out the back door.

Keshtiar later returned via the front door - probably after collecting his gun - and shot an employee in the thigh.

Three years later, while on bail over the nightclub incident, he shot his girlfriend and a mate at a Burwood house and was sentenced to 12 years’ jail.

Never one for accepting responsibility, Keshtiar blamed the pair for what had happened in the immediate aftermath.

“Look what you‘ve made me do. I hope you are fucking happy,” he ranted in the immediate afterwards.

Keshtiar later owned up to police about blasting them with the revolver but when his trial arrived offered a vastly different version.

He came up with a story that violent underworld figure Sam Zayat - a former partner of his victim girlfriend - was actually the shooter.

Mohammad Akbar Keshtiar was a bikie, gangster and attempted murderer.

Zayat was in no position to defend himself as he had by then been murdered in a gangland ambush at Tarneit, in Melbourne‘s west.

While in jail, Keshtiar was regarded as a key figure for the expanding Mongols bikie outfit and was suspected of actively recruiting members while behind bars.

This posed a threat to the rival Comanchero gang’s heavy influence in Melbourne’s drug trade.

In 2017 Keshtiar came inches away from death after a drive by shooting at his house went wrong.

Zabi Ezedyar, a 26-year-old plasterer, got out of his car and walked to the front door Keshtiar’s Narre Warren property.

He died in a hail of bullets, the likely victim of a mistaken identity blunder.

Having spent the last six years since the Ezedyar shooting away from the limelight, Keshtiar’s body was found dead near Chapel St’s glitzy hotel and restaurant district.