Maytham Hamad: Brother of exiled tobacco kingpin Kazem Hamad seeks bail on ‘serious’ money laundering charge

The Perth-based brother of exiled tobacco kingpin Kazem Hamad is seeking bail after being remanded in custody on serious money laundering charges. His bid is set to be a mini-trial of the allegations. Maytham Hamad, who was charged last week, had two Lamborghinis and other luxury items seized as part of a national investigation into a string of fire bombings and shootings in WA. The 31-year-old, who moved to Perth in 2022, was sent to Hakea remand prison after his first court appearance on a charge of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime to the value of $1 million or more. At his second appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday, defence counsel Steven Whybrow called for a lengthy bail hearing, saying it should be held in closed court, meaning members of the public would be kept out. Mr Whybrow said a closed court was needed because the hearing would involve “confidential” evidence provided by the Commonwealth and the defence wanted to “test some of the evidence relied upon by the DPP”. The bail application was adjourned until December 1, after prosecutors confirmed they would contest bail. They also sought a closed court so media coverage did not prejudice the case. The court was told a Victorian police officer would give evidence via videolink for the prosecution. While Mr Whybrow indicated his client sought bail as soon as possible, the magistrate said a proper amount of time was needed to hear the “serious” charge. Police allege Maytham Hamad, who watched on via videolink from Hakea, was behind a commercial-scale distribution of illicit tobacco and money laundering across WA, Victoria and NSW. He allegedly oversaw a retail network of stores in Armadale, Byford, High Wycombe and Medina, and sent the cash profits interstate “using nominee accounts, encrypted messaging and postal deliveries”. Between August and September, police say they intercepted nine parcels containing about $1.7m in cash. “Investigators will also allege more than 45 parcels – each holding between $155,000 to $220,000 in cash – were sent to Victoria, with a total value of more than $8m,” a police spokesman said last week. Maytham Hamad is understood to have been living a life of luxury in Mt Pleasant while his older brother Kazem remains wanted by Australian authorities.