‘Finish the job’: Gunman shot ‘Afghan Ali’ as he lay critically wounded in South Yarra street

A gunman allegedly executed notorious bikie Mohammed Akbar Keshtiar as he lay injured on the ground after a hit team sprayed him with 17 bullets.

Keshtiar, known as “Afghan Ali”, died in hospital after being shot several times in a targeted attack while walking along Almeida Crescent, South Yarra, about 11.40pm on August 4, 2023.

He was previously linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs, Middle Eastern crime groups and allegations of extortion.

Mohammed Akbar Keshtiar was gunned down outside his apartment building in South Yarra.

The Supreme Court heard on Wednesday that Narre Warren man Adris Kheyali, 23, was accused of opening fire on Keshtiar from the rear window of a car before getting out and shooting Keshtiar again as he lay critically wounded on the ground. A man with Keshtiar ran for safety and was not injured.

Kheyali, who is charged with murder and conduct endangering life, applied for bail, offering to be subjected to electronic monitoring, a curfew and have his family offer an $800,000 surety to secure his release.

In opposing bail, prosecutor Peter Pickering said Kheyali posed a significant risk of fleeing the country, committing further offending and interfering with witnesses if he was released.

He said Kheyali was on remand for “the most serious [criminal] charge in this state”, and the community must be protected.

“This is not just a random shooting. This is not one of a crime of passion. This is a targeted attack, not just a shot, but a number of shots,” Pickering told the court.

“The accusation is that the accused has got out of the car and then fired further shots … to make sure the job was done.”

It was also revealed during the bail hearing that Kheyali had alleged links to the Comanchero bikie gang.

Defence barrister Dermot Dann, KC, said the prosecution’s case was weak and lacked forensic evidence. His client denied any involvement in the killing.

“He has made denials in the record of interviews … that he had nothing to do with this shooting,” Dann said.

The court heard that since Khestiar’s death, Kheyali had made four trips to Afghanistan to visit his wife and support her as she recovered from giving birth to a stillborn son in November.

Kheyali’s psychologist, Shagufta Riaz, said Kheyali had struggled to cope in the aftermath of the tragedy and his time in custody could have implications on his diagnosis of major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Kheyali’s elderly grandmother also provided evidence supporting her grandson being given bail.

She repeatedly told the court through a translator: “I swear that my grandson is innocent. He is a good boy.”

Detective Leading Senior Constable Luke Collyer told the court police were still working through phone mapping data and extensive CCTV from around the scene.

He said the police case would rely on a witness who had given a statement to police which led to Kheyali’s arrest.

Justice Rita Incerti refused bail saying the alleged offending was targeted and occurred in public, putting the wider community at risk.

She said Kheyali’s criminal history included a “violent and disturbing” assault on a man at a gym in 2023 where the victim was stomped, kicked and struck with a hammer.

Incerti said while she accepted Kheyali had strong family support, it was impossible for them to monitor him 24 hours a day.

“You are not a child, and it is fanciful to think they’ll realistically be able to monitor your conduct,” she said.

A second man has also been charged with Keshtiar’s murder.

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