The ex-partner of a crime boss was stopped at the border. Her luggage was a luxury treasure trove
The ex-partner of tobacco war kingpin Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad has been arrested after she was intercepted at the airport allegedly carrying luxury watches and cash to the crime boss overseas.
Safa Abouhasna was stopped by Australian Border Force officers while boarding an international flight in March, clutching a gold Rolex. It was one of two high-end watches worth $130,000 found in her luggage, along with $10,000 worth of designer men's clothing and $US5000 cash.
The ABF tip-off came as Victoria Police probed the flow of underworld profits back to Hamad. Abouhasna has not been charged.
From exile in Iraq where he was deported in 2023, Hamad has waged a two-year campaign of firebombings and shootings across Melbourne to take control of Australia's multibillion dollar tobacco black market – including the suspected murders of underworld rivals such as boxer Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim.
Recently, Hamad has united remaining players into a new cartel under his control, and raised his extortion 'tax' on hundreds of tobacco shops selling his illicit cigarettes to $5000 a month, with plans to expand into the lucrative vape market. But specialist police taskforce Lunar has been nipping at the heels of his network in Melbourne.
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Victoria Police said Abouhasna, 31, and her brother, 33, were arrested on Wednesday 'in connection to an offshore illicit tobacco syndicate leader involved in serious and organised crime'.
Abouhasna's brother has not been charged, and they are not accused of being involved in the tobacco business or the firebombings that have followed.
'Police are continuing to investigate whether these items [seized] were purchased through illicit wealth,' police said.
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West Australian
5 hours ago
- West Australian
Police enforcing road safety measures and penalties this King's Birthday weekend
Double demerits and other penalties for drivers will be in effect from Friday midnight through the end of the King's Birthday long weekend, as police ramp up public holiday crackdowns. The double-demerit system will come into effect in NSW from 12.01am on Friday, June 6, and end at 11.59pm on Monday, June 9 for speeding, illegal use of mobile phones, not wearing a seatbelt and riding without a motorcycle helmet. Police may also give additional demerit points if certain driving and parking offences are committed in a school zone. The ACT will also implement a similar double-demerit point system, with a single extra demerit point for all other traffic offences. Victoria Police is cracking down on dangerous driving behaviour over the long weekend, with the road safety blitz – Operation Regal – launching on Friday. Police say the number of lives lost on the road has surged to a 16-year high, with 37 fatalities recorded just in May. There have been 136 lives have been lost on Victorian roads this year, up by 14 per cent on the same time last year Road Policing Command Acting Assistant Commissioner David Byrt said the amount of road trauma the team had experienced halfway into the year had been 'extremely concerning'. 'Whether you're travelling across the state this weekend or heading to the alpine regions, please take extra care on the roads and be sure to drive to the conditions,' he said. 'We'll be highly visible and enforcing across the state's roads this long weekend, cracking down on any dangerous driving behaviour that puts other road users at risk.' Police have warned that speeding and distracted motorists will be their key focus over the King's Birthday long weekend, which has been identified as a high-risk period on Victoria's roads. Major arterials and highways leading to holiday hotspots will be targeted, including the alpine areas, with the snow season expected to begin from this weekend onwards. Drivers and motorists are also urged to avoid driving while impaired, as drug and alcohol testing will be conducted anywhere and at any time. 'We're appealing to everyone to make road safety their No.1 priority every time they get behind the wheel or are out using our roads to eliminate this unnecessary and avoidable trauma,' Mr Byrt said. 'We'll be highly visible and enforcing across the state's roads this long weekend, cracking down on any dangerous driving behaviour that puts other road users at risk.' Other states like South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory will not be imposing a double-demerit scheme for the long weekend, but road safety campaigns will be conducted. Tasmania Police has warned drivers and pedestrians to exercise safety and caution during Hobart's Dark Mofo musical festival, which kicks off on Friday. 'This year already, three pedestrians have died on Tasmanian roads, with a further 14 seriously injured,' Inspector John Toohey said. 'We're asking everyone to stay alert, avoid distractions such as phones or headphones and only cross at designated crossings. 'With many festival events taking place at night and in lowlight conditions, we're hoping to see responsible behaviour; that is, people looking out for each other, obeying traffic signals and being visible in the dark.'
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Stupid knee-jerk reaction': Erin Patterson on her lies
Erin Patterson says her lies to police after cooking a deadly meal for her estranged husband's family were a "stupid knee-jerk reaction" to finding out people had become sick. The accused triple murderer, 50, entered the witness box for a fourth day before a Supreme Court jury on Thursday. She has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian. All three died in hospital days after eating death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons in July 2023, at her Leongatha home in regional Victoria. Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC finished his examination in chief of Patterson on Thursday morning by asking about her lies to police. Citing her police interview on August 5, 2023, he asked Patterson if she had lied to police about never having dehydrated food and denying ownership of a dehydrator. "Were those lies?" Mr Mandy asked. "Yes," Patterson replied. He then asked her why she lied to Victoria Police detectives about the dehydrator. "I had disposed of it a few days earlier in the context of thinking that maybe mushrooms that I'd foraged for the meal I prepared was responsible for making people sick," Patterson said. After police told her Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson had died, during a search of her home before the interview, she had a "stupid knee-jerk reaction to just dig deeper and keep lying". "I was just scared, but I shouldn't have done it," Patterson told the court. He asked Patterson if her answer to police that she had "never" foraged for mushrooms was also a lie. "Yes, they were both lies," she replied. Mr Mandy then asked if she intended to kill or cause serious injury to each of her lunch guests by serving them poisonous beef Wellingtons. "No, I didn't," she replied. When asked if she intended to harm them, she said no. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC began her cross-examination of Patterson before midday and went straight into her lies. She put to Patterson that she had disposed of a food dehydrator because she had been using it to dehydrate death cap mushrooms. "I didn't know that I'd done that," Patterson said. Dr Rogers then accused Patterson of having "rushed out" of Monash Hospital, the day after she was released, to get rid of evidence. "No," Patterson said. "You lied to police about never owning a dehydrator because you had used the dehydrator to prepare death cap mushrooms to include in the lunch," Dr Rogers continued. "No, I didn't know that," Patterson replied. "You lied because you knew if you told police the truth it would implicate you in the deliberate poisoning of your four lunch guests," Dr Rogers said. Patterson responded: "No, no, it's not true." As the trial nears the end of week six, Justice Christopher Beale told the jury he could not put a figure on how much longer it would go for but they should make arrangements. He said Patterson may be in the witness box into early next week, and the trial would not sit on Monday, which is a public holiday in Victoria. After this, he said there would be some legal discussions without the jury, and then there could be "more evidence". Closing addresses from the prosecution and defence will follow, and could each take "a couple of days" before he gives directions to the jury, which could take another couple of days. "Then the boot is on the other foot because none of you can tell me how long you will be in deliberations. Take all the time you need," Justice Beale said. The trial continues. Erin Patterson says her lies to police after cooking a deadly meal for her estranged husband's family were a "stupid knee-jerk reaction" to finding out people had become sick. The accused triple murderer, 50, entered the witness box for a fourth day before a Supreme Court jury on Thursday. She has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian. All three died in hospital days after eating death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons in July 2023, at her Leongatha home in regional Victoria. Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC finished his examination in chief of Patterson on Thursday morning by asking about her lies to police. Citing her police interview on August 5, 2023, he asked Patterson if she had lied to police about never having dehydrated food and denying ownership of a dehydrator. "Were those lies?" Mr Mandy asked. "Yes," Patterson replied. He then asked her why she lied to Victoria Police detectives about the dehydrator. "I had disposed of it a few days earlier in the context of thinking that maybe mushrooms that I'd foraged for the meal I prepared was responsible for making people sick," Patterson said. After police told her Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson had died, during a search of her home before the interview, she had a "stupid knee-jerk reaction to just dig deeper and keep lying". "I was just scared, but I shouldn't have done it," Patterson told the court. He asked Patterson if her answer to police that she had "never" foraged for mushrooms was also a lie. "Yes, they were both lies," she replied. Mr Mandy then asked if she intended to kill or cause serious injury to each of her lunch guests by serving them poisonous beef Wellingtons. "No, I didn't," she replied. When asked if she intended to harm them, she said no. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC began her cross-examination of Patterson before midday and went straight into her lies. She put to Patterson that she had disposed of a food dehydrator because she had been using it to dehydrate death cap mushrooms. "I didn't know that I'd done that," Patterson said. Dr Rogers then accused Patterson of having "rushed out" of Monash Hospital, the day after she was released, to get rid of evidence. "No," Patterson said. "You lied to police about never owning a dehydrator because you had used the dehydrator to prepare death cap mushrooms to include in the lunch," Dr Rogers continued. "No, I didn't know that," Patterson replied. "You lied because you knew if you told police the truth it would implicate you in the deliberate poisoning of your four lunch guests," Dr Rogers said. Patterson responded: "No, no, it's not true." As the trial nears the end of week six, Justice Christopher Beale told the jury he could not put a figure on how much longer it would go for but they should make arrangements. He said Patterson may be in the witness box into early next week, and the trial would not sit on Monday, which is a public holiday in Victoria. After this, he said there would be some legal discussions without the jury, and then there could be "more evidence". Closing addresses from the prosecution and defence will follow, and could each take "a couple of days" before he gives directions to the jury, which could take another couple of days. "Then the boot is on the other foot because none of you can tell me how long you will be in deliberations. Take all the time you need," Justice Beale said. The trial continues. Erin Patterson says her lies to police after cooking a deadly meal for her estranged husband's family were a "stupid knee-jerk reaction" to finding out people had become sick. The accused triple murderer, 50, entered the witness box for a fourth day before a Supreme Court jury on Thursday. She has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian. All three died in hospital days after eating death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons in July 2023, at her Leongatha home in regional Victoria. Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC finished his examination in chief of Patterson on Thursday morning by asking about her lies to police. Citing her police interview on August 5, 2023, he asked Patterson if she had lied to police about never having dehydrated food and denying ownership of a dehydrator. "Were those lies?" Mr Mandy asked. "Yes," Patterson replied. He then asked her why she lied to Victoria Police detectives about the dehydrator. "I had disposed of it a few days earlier in the context of thinking that maybe mushrooms that I'd foraged for the meal I prepared was responsible for making people sick," Patterson said. After police told her Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson had died, during a search of her home before the interview, she had a "stupid knee-jerk reaction to just dig deeper and keep lying". "I was just scared, but I shouldn't have done it," Patterson told the court. He asked Patterson if her answer to police that she had "never" foraged for mushrooms was also a lie. "Yes, they were both lies," she replied. Mr Mandy then asked if she intended to kill or cause serious injury to each of her lunch guests by serving them poisonous beef Wellingtons. "No, I didn't," she replied. When asked if she intended to harm them, she said no. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC began her cross-examination of Patterson before midday and went straight into her lies. She put to Patterson that she had disposed of a food dehydrator because she had been using it to dehydrate death cap mushrooms. "I didn't know that I'd done that," Patterson said. Dr Rogers then accused Patterson of having "rushed out" of Monash Hospital, the day after she was released, to get rid of evidence. "No," Patterson said. "You lied to police about never owning a dehydrator because you had used the dehydrator to prepare death cap mushrooms to include in the lunch," Dr Rogers continued. "No, I didn't know that," Patterson replied. "You lied because you knew if you told police the truth it would implicate you in the deliberate poisoning of your four lunch guests," Dr Rogers said. Patterson responded: "No, no, it's not true." As the trial nears the end of week six, Justice Christopher Beale told the jury he could not put a figure on how much longer it would go for but they should make arrangements. He said Patterson may be in the witness box into early next week, and the trial would not sit on Monday, which is a public holiday in Victoria. After this, he said there would be some legal discussions without the jury, and then there could be "more evidence". Closing addresses from the prosecution and defence will follow, and could each take "a couple of days" before he gives directions to the jury, which could take another couple of days. "Then the boot is on the other foot because none of you can tell me how long you will be in deliberations. Take all the time you need," Justice Beale said. The trial continues. Erin Patterson says her lies to police after cooking a deadly meal for her estranged husband's family were a "stupid knee-jerk reaction" to finding out people had become sick. The accused triple murderer, 50, entered the witness box for a fourth day before a Supreme Court jury on Thursday. She has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian. All three died in hospital days after eating death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons in July 2023, at her Leongatha home in regional Victoria. Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC finished his examination in chief of Patterson on Thursday morning by asking about her lies to police. Citing her police interview on August 5, 2023, he asked Patterson if she had lied to police about never having dehydrated food and denying ownership of a dehydrator. "Were those lies?" Mr Mandy asked. "Yes," Patterson replied. He then asked her why she lied to Victoria Police detectives about the dehydrator. "I had disposed of it a few days earlier in the context of thinking that maybe mushrooms that I'd foraged for the meal I prepared was responsible for making people sick," Patterson said. After police told her Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson had died, during a search of her home before the interview, she had a "stupid knee-jerk reaction to just dig deeper and keep lying". "I was just scared, but I shouldn't have done it," Patterson told the court. He asked Patterson if her answer to police that she had "never" foraged for mushrooms was also a lie. "Yes, they were both lies," she replied. Mr Mandy then asked if she intended to kill or cause serious injury to each of her lunch guests by serving them poisonous beef Wellingtons. "No, I didn't," she replied. When asked if she intended to harm them, she said no. Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC began her cross-examination of Patterson before midday and went straight into her lies. She put to Patterson that she had disposed of a food dehydrator because she had been using it to dehydrate death cap mushrooms. "I didn't know that I'd done that," Patterson said. Dr Rogers then accused Patterson of having "rushed out" of Monash Hospital, the day after she was released, to get rid of evidence. "No," Patterson said. "You lied to police about never owning a dehydrator because you had used the dehydrator to prepare death cap mushrooms to include in the lunch," Dr Rogers continued. "No, I didn't know that," Patterson replied. "You lied because you knew if you told police the truth it would implicate you in the deliberate poisoning of your four lunch guests," Dr Rogers said. Patterson responded: "No, no, it's not true." As the trial nears the end of week six, Justice Christopher Beale told the jury he could not put a figure on how much longer it would go for but they should make arrangements. He said Patterson may be in the witness box into early next week, and the trial would not sit on Monday, which is a public holiday in Victoria. After this, he said there would be some legal discussions without the jury, and then there could be "more evidence". Closing addresses from the prosecution and defence will follow, and could each take "a couple of days" before he gives directions to the jury, which could take another couple of days. "Then the boot is on the other foot because none of you can tell me how long you will be in deliberations. Take all the time you need," Justice Beale said. The trial continues.
Herald Sun
9 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Resolution of police pay dispute: Victoria to recoup lost traffic fine revenue
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Victorian government lost at least $90m in revenue from speed cameras in just three months during the peak of the bitter pay war with police. New figures have revealed how damaging the rolling industrial action by the state's police union was as officers warned motorists of where cameras were and refused to process traffic fines when new pay deal negotiations turned sour. From September police refused to process fines unless there was evidence of serious reckless behaviour. New data covering the peak of police industrial action, between October and December last year, shows 219,000 fewer fines were issued over the period when compared to the previous year. That equated to a $90m drop in fine revenue. The hit to state coffers was on top of $23m in lost fine revenue from the July to September when 75,000 fewer fines were issued. However, with the pay deal now done and dusted Victoria Police will begin chasing down infringements where there was serious reckless behaviour. This includes, for example, speeding 20km/h over the limit, and some of the lost revenue will be recouped. Minister for Police Anthony Carbines told the Herald Sun that 'infringements during protected industrial action are being pursued'. 'Drivers who were engaging in serious reckless behaviour were still held to account by Victoria Police as part of their ongoing road policing,' he said. 'There is no excuse for bad behaviour on our roads – a moment doing the wrong thing can have devastating consequences.' Police manage the issuing of penalty infringement notices while the Department of Justice and Community Safety manages the road safety camera network, but as part of the industrial action they refused to process tickets unless there was serious reckless behaviour. The industrial action resulted in a vote of no-confidence in former Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, which was then followed by his resignation earlier this year. The Police Association of Victoria Police have been contacted for comment.
