A businessman has been fined more than $75,000 after authorities smashed an illicit tobacco racket in Central Queensland.
Rami Abdullah Hamad Hamad, 27, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to one count each of receiving tainted property, and contravening an order in relation to information stored electronically.
The court heard that on June 24, police in conjunction with Central Queensland Public Health executed a search warrant at a Calliope business in relation to the supply of illicit tobacco.
It was told that Hamad had been selling illicit tobacco products at the premises for “several months”.
During the raid, authorities seized 41,960 cigarettes, 8.4kg of tobacco, 439 vapes, and $13,828 cash.
The court heard that Hamad did not comply with an order to give police the information needed to access his electronic devices.
Hamad had no criminal history.
Prior to his sentencing in the Magistrates Court, Hamad was fined $75,438 by Queensland Health for his offending in relation to this bust.
Solicitor Sophie-Lee Oliver said Hamad was currently in the process of seeking new employment.
She said he was born in Iraq and had lived in Australia since 2018.
Ms Oliver said Hamad and other family members had moved to Australia after his father was killed by ISIS in 2014.
In relation to the offending, Ms Oliver said Hamad had operated a tobacco and gift shop for about three years “before becoming involved in the situation which brings him before the court”.
Ms Oliver said the person who had supplied the items to Hamad told him they would “make him money”.
The solicitor said in relation to the contravene order offence, Hamad did not comply because he was “fearful” police would find details about who had been providing him with the items.
“And (he was fearful) that they (person providing the items) would get in trouble and that would result in him being hurt or killed by the people that were running that business or running that system,” Ms Oliver said.
Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted the large amount that Hamad had already been fined in relation to his offending.
She sentenced him to nine months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 18 months.
Convictions were recorded.
Extracted in full from: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gladstone/police-courts/rami-hamad-fined-75k-after-illicit-tobacco-racket-busted/news-story/c90ba509f5911ffd2261f900e3c0ceed
