Police have made a breakthrough in their investigation of the firebombing of a Far South Coast tobacco shop.
We can exclusively reveal…a 24 year-old Lebanese National and a juvenile both from Victoria have been arrested over the incident last month in Eden.
Wael Khoder appeared in Batemans Bay Local Court yesterday afternoon following his extradition from Melbourne.
Police opposed his application for release but after a long address by his lawyer Khoder was granted strict bail to live with a cousin in Sydney.
Among the 21 conditions imposed by Magistrate Doug Dick…Khoder has been ordered to hand his passport in to police, report to police daily and placed under a nightly curfew.
He’s been charged with one count each of destroy property in company – use fire $5000, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of the owner and destroy / damage property in criminal activity of group.
Police argued Khoder should not bee released on bail.
“The accused is alleged to have committed the offences at a particular address and would have knowledge of the address,” the court was told.
“There is multiple CCTV evidence, phone evidence taken from the co-accused. The vehicle in question is a stolen vehicle,” the prosecutor said.
“The fire bombing of tobacconists has received widespread media coverage. We are concerned he will not turn up at court,” he said.
“The charges will be referred to the DPP. The accused had no knowledge of whether there was anyone inside the shop at the time.”
Khoder’s solicitor told the court her client has never been in trouble with the police.
“I acknowledge there is a risk. He does not have a criminal record,” she told the court.
“There is no evidence of a connection between the co-accused young person. It is a circumstantial case.
“The identity of the Mr Khoder is an issue. He was taken to the CCTV footage and showed. He was asked to point out himself in the footage.
“Why would police ask him to identify himself if the footage was that clear?” she asked.
“The footage is that grainy and he maintained his right to silence.”
Khoder sat in the dock of the courtroom in hand cuffs, wearing a t-shirt and jean shorts while being closely watched by two corrective services officers.
The matter has been adjourned to Eden Local Court on April 8.
He’s excused from attending if legally represented as it will only be a brief administrative mention.
A Victorian magistrate has rejected an application to extradite the juvenile at this time as he has outstanding matters before the courts down there.
