Accused arson ringleader Majid Alibadi has been committed to stand trial over a series of alleged tobacco store and restaurant firebombings.
Magistrate Jillian Prior on Wednesday found there was sufficient evidence for the case against Alibadi to be heard in the Victorian County Court.
Alibadi, 25, entered not guilty pleas to 22 charges, including arson, reckless conduct endangering life and dealing with property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
It's alleged he orchestrated a series of firebombings and car thefts across Melbourne between September 2023 and March.
Police claim he has been working under Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad, who is allegedly running the Hamad family's organised crime operations from the Middle East.
Dermott Dann KC succeeded in sparing Majid Alibadi from electronic monitoring and a curfew. (Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)
The Hamad syndicate is fighting the Haddara gang for control over the importation and distribution of illegal tobacco in Victoria, the court was previously told.
Alibadi was allegedly recorded, through a police-operated bug in his car, to be organising the arsons and counselling others to carry out the attacks.
They include the firebombing of a Glenroy tobacco store in October 2023 and two arson attacks on the Karizma restaurant in Docklands in November 2023.
Rabih Haddara, who owned the Glenroy store, gave evidence during the three-day committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court.
It's alleged Alibadi went to Mr Haddara's shop on September 23, 2023, and handed over a phone with an active video call from Kaz Hamad.
Mr Hamad claimed the GVT store was in an area belonging to him and Mr Haddara would need to pay up if he wanted to keep doing business, he told the court.
The owner claimed he refused, instead telling Mr Hamad in Arabic, "I pay you my dick".
Mr Haddara alleged Alibadi then asked him for a lighter and scoped out his store for CCTV cameras before leaving.
The store was set alight on October 10, 2023, causing more than $450,000 worth of damage.
Magistrate Jill Prior said she had considered the witnesses' evidence alongside other material and hours of CCTV footage before ruling Alibadi should be committed to trial.
She extended his bail, which included conditions of wearing an electronic monitoring device and to report to a police station twice a week.
Alibadi's barrister Dermot Dann KC argued the curfew condition should be removed as his client had been complying with bail and was facing long court delays.
"This will be a long trial - it's unlikely it will proceed next year," Mr Dann told the court.
Ms Prior ruled in Alibadi's favour, finding the electronic monitoring device was a safeguard and the curfew was no longer a necessary condition.
Alibadi was bailed to appear before the County Court in February for a pre-trial directions hearing.