By Cam Lucadou-Wells
AN ENDEAVOUR Hills man has succeeded in his second bail attempt after being accused over a spate of commercial burglaries and a home invasion.
Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told that Qadir Rahmani, 25, had the support of a stable family and no priors for breaching bail or failing to appear in court.
His lawyer told the court that Rahmani, charged with possession of ice, had a drug problem that could be behind the alleged offences.
She said his remand stint – his first time in custody – had a “sobering effect” on him.
According to a tendered police summary, Rahmani – a disqualified driver who was out on bail and on a community corrections order – was identified in a stolen Toyota Kluger at several of the five burglaries which occurred in August and September.
He was accused of breaking into a Notting Hill computer retailer and stealing nine computers valued at $8860, a $70 petrol drive off in Hallam, stealing $14,365 of tools from two break-ins at a Discount Trader store in Mt Waverley and the theft of $2000 worth of security equipment in a separate burglary.
At dawn on 31 August, Rahmani and an unknown associate allegedly entered a Berwick home by forcing the roller door and kicking in the internal garage door leading inside the home.
After being disturbed by an occupant, they ran away and escaped in a black Mazda 6 with an attached trailer.
Rahmani also allegedly sped at 120 km/h in a 60 km/h zone from police as he left the Bayswater Hotel on 17 August.
Police immediately terminated the pursuit, the court was told.
The Kluger was found with a false paper number plate 150 metres from Rahmani’s home on 15 September.
Inside the car was a Melbourne Pathology receipt with Rahmani’s name and address, police alleged.
A water feature allegedly stolen from a SJD display home by Rahmani on 4 September was also found in his front yard.
In his home were other suspected proceeds of crime such as a nail gun, heat gun, hedge trimmer, power and hand tools and a printer.
At the time, the accused was on bail over a theft of a rental car which was used in a petrol drive-off in Officer in July, as well as theft of a motorbike in 2015.
Police alleged he had breached bail conditions such as not driving and not attending an alcohol-licensed premises.
Rahmani had earlier told his first bail hearing in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 19 September that he had been accused because a “larger man covered with a face mask” had been seen at one of the scenes.
“They’re basically going by my body type.”
On 3 October, magistrate Jack Vandersteen noted the prosecution case appeared strong but also Rahmani’s age, stable residence, and an impressive family witness.
Mr Vandersteen said Rahmani’s family showed “intense loyalty” to the accused.
“It’s now for you to return that.”
Rahmani was bailed on strict conditions including a night curfew, daily reporting to Endeavour Hills Police Station, not to drive or use drugs, to associate with co-accused and to surrender his passport.
He was ordered for assessment on the CREDIT bail program for drug treatment.
