The man accused of orchestrating a fatal arson at his own Chapel Street juice bar was motivated by “substantial greed”, a Melbourne court heard on Friday.
Ibrahim Haddara, 28, allegedly ordered two arson attacks at his Golden Lounge Dessert and Juice Bar in Prahran in December 2024 and January 2025 in an attempt to make an insurance claim for the damage.
The allegations against Haddara, who faces half a dozen criminal charges, were aired during a bail application at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Detective Senior Leading Constable Ian Walk, of the arson and explosive squad told the court Haddara had arranged two arson attacks through his associates, Ali Mustafa and his brother, Mohammed, to make an insurance claim.
The Mustafa brothers are accused of recruiting David Gaddie and Christian Bedford to carry out the first arson attack on December 6, 2024.
CCTV footage shows two men breaking open the door of the Chapel Street premises about 4am before dousing the juice bar in fuel and setting it alight, the court heard.
Walk said despite the damage, Haddara did not make an insurance claim after the fire.
In the early hours of January 15, 2025, Gaddie and another co-accused, Scott Mathieson, allegedly returned to the scene about 4am armed with four 20-litre fuel containers. After stepping out of the juice bar, Gaddie ignited the premises, sparking a fuel-air explosion that blew the shopfront onto the road and engulfed Gaddie in flames, the court heard.
CCTV footage captured Mathieson driving to the front of the juice bar, before jumping out of an orange Holden commodore to help Gaddie – who was still on fire – into the vehicle, police said.
It is alleged the men then drove past The Alfred hospital but failed to stop to assist Gaddie, instead driving to Mathieson’s Fitzroy apartment.
Mathieson’s girlfriend then allegedly called emergency services, telling Triple Zero that Gaddie’s skin was peeling off. An ambulance arrived at the Fitzroy premises about 45 minutes after the fire, where he was treated at The Alfred but died five months later.
Walk said a pathologist’s report concluded that Gaddie died from complications arising from burns that covered 72 per cent of his body.
Forensic examinations later conducted by the major crimes squad located large pieces of Gaddie’s burnt skin on the doors of the car, as well as a public toilet block the men stopped at, the court heard.
Haddara allegedly contacted his insurance broker the same day as the arson attack to lodge a claim, recording loss and damages that totalled about $900,000.
“These arson attacks have not been driven by drug or alcohol use; they’ve been driven by substantial greed … or a significant debt,” Walk told the court.
In opposing bail, Walk said the alleged crimes displayed a high level of organisation and were well resourced.
“The co-accused persons were not prepared to [commit the alleged arson] themselves, but recruited vulnerable people who were drug and alcohol affected to commit the attacks,” the detective said.
Walk detailed several phone calls between the accused men, including a text message allegedly sent by Haddara two days before the fatal fire that referred to Gaddie by his nickname.
The arson detective also said a car bought by Haddara was used by the men to carry out the attacks.
Bedford told police that Gaddie said Haddara had orchestrated the arson to make an insurance claim, the court heard.
Haddara’s lawyers argued the evidence against Haddara was weak and did not directly link him to the crimes.
In granting bail, magistrate Stephen Ballek said the prosecution’s case was “clearly” circumstantial, but added circumstantial cases could still be strong.
Ballek said the imposition of strict bail conditions would satisfy any risks outlined by the prosecution.
Haddara’s father, Abdul, agreed to provide a $20,000 surety to the court for his son’s release.
“He [has] never been in trouble in his life,” Abdul told the court.
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Carla Jaeger is a journalist for The Age. Got a tip? Email carla.jaeger@theage.com.au or message carlajaeger.62 on Signal.Connect via X or email.