Court hears tip-off about potential tobacco store firebombing sparks a violent assault by SA’s illicit trade

A tip-off about another potential tobacco store firebombing sparked a violent assault by the man police say controls the illicit trade in South Australia, a court has heard.

A tip-off about another potential tobacco store firebombing sparked a violent assault by the man police is a significant figure in the illicit trade in South Australia, and the whole ordeal was captured on CCTV, a court has heard.

Police allege the figure in the escalating tobacco wars among interstate illicit trading rivalries is Ahmed Aref Abdul Al Mansoury – but a court released him on strict home detention bail just two months after he allegedly launched a violent attack on a man alongside four others in a restaurant next door to a store in his control.

Ahmed, 34, and two of his brothers Sajad Aref Abdul Al Mansoury, 31 and Ali Aref Abdul Al Mansoury, 23, appeared in the dock of the Adelaide Magistrates Court late on Wednesday afternoon 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”.

An alleged senior underworld figure and one of the alleged main players of the state's violent tobacco wars has been granted bail. Picture: 7NEWS

The court heard Ahmed Al Mansouri has been trying to protect control of the market from cross-border rivals. Picture: 7NEWS

“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.

The court heard the ordeal, captured on CCTV, had been sparked by the alleged victim “coming to say I have information about these firebombings”.

“(He was) invited into a restaurant which is next door to one of their business premises and (he was) subsequently assaulted,” the prosecutor said.

“The information that I have from the investigating officer of that matter is that there is CCTV available of inside the restaurant that does not have audio, but there is vision of the outside that does have audio.

“It is the audio of the conversations outside that allowed police to deduct that this was about a tip off about the fire bombing of a premises owned or operated by Ahmed. Ultimately the submission is that he is a very significant figure and is heavily invested in the ongoing illicit tobacco trade.”

He asked Magistrate Simon Smart not to release Ahmed into the community due to fears he could be a “perpetrator” of violence, or instead, become a victim of another crime.

There have been nearly 20 attacks on tobacco stores across SA in recent months. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“If he is not a victim he could be a perpetrator of ongoing future violence, and on that basis all forms of bail are opposed.”

“This was involved with seizure of a large amount of illicit tobacco. The submission is that this accused is a significant conduit of this illegal tobacco in South Australia. There are submissions made that he is in danger if he is released into the community.

The court heard several seizures across “a series of different premises” in recent months had resulted in officers seizing a significant amount of money, as well as bars of silver, cigarettes, cigarette tubes and loose tobacco.

Mr Smart released Ahmed on home detention bail and he walked from the Adelaide Remand Centre just before 7.30pm on Wednesday evening. He will face court again in January.

The four other men applied for home detention bail, and will return to court next month for outcomes.

Originally published as Court hears tip-off about potential tobacco store firebombing sparks a violent assault by SA’s illicit trade