Underworld figure Robert Issa at centre of tit-for-tat firebombings before execution murder

An underworld player who was executed in a shopping centre car park in Melbourne’s north had built up an enormous amount of ill will in the months leading up to his murder.

A gangland source, who cannot be identified for safety reasons, said Robert Issa was part of a tit-for-tat firebombing campaign between warring members of a crew which had led to more than a dozen homes and businesses being torched, including the Sonsa Markets in Collingwood, in 2023.

Issa was also heading an attempted push into the illicit tobacco market which, at the time, was being fought over by more than half a dozen major players following a failed bid to establish a cartel that would set turf boundaries and profit-sharing among members of the illegal trade.

“It was between two crews that used to be one crew. They started burning each other’s houses,” the source said.

“They were doing all these burnings. They made their names. Robert was starting a new fresh crew to come into the tobacco industry. He was looking to become a nightmare for the tobacco industry.

“Robert tried to do what other people had done. But no one wants to share nothing. That’s when his house got shot up. But that didn’t stop him. So that’s when he got dropped out.”

The firebombing campaign and attack on Sonsa are not believed to be related to Victoria’s wider illicit tobacco war, which was then only in its early stages.

Homicide detectives charged five men over Issa’s murder after a series of early morning raids on six properties in Kew, Mickleham, Pascoe Vale and Fawkner on Thursday – a major breakthrough in the protracted investigation into the brazen killing.

Investigators believe the men, 29-year-old Dion Perrone from Kew, 31-year-old Muhammed Sayan from Mickleham, 33-year-old Bechara Bayrouty from Pascoe Vale, and two 26-year-old men from Fawkner – Christian Behrndt and Fabio Perrone – are foot soldiers who were hired to carry out the hit.

“We believe there are also people further up the chain who are responsible for ordering this attack,” homicide squad detective inspector Dean Thomas said.

“We will do everything we can to hold accountable every single person involved in this shooting. If you know you are part of that chain, now is the time for you to come and speak to us because this may be your last opportunity.”

Issa died and another man was seriously injured when balaclava-clad men sprayed their white Mercedes station wagon with bullets in front of horrified shoppers outside Craigieburn Central shopping centre about 3pm on October 7, 2023.

The men fled the scene in a black Range Rover, which was later found torched in Westmeadows.

Several witnesses attempted CPR on Issa before emergency services arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Issa’s associate, a 30-year-old from the northern suburbs, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The five men fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday evening, where they did not apply for bail and were remanded in custody.

Fabio Perrone’s defence team, arguing against police’s request for extra time to collate their evidence in the case, said their client was accused of the arson of a “secondary or getaway” vehicle, which was not at the scene of the principal crime.

That was “a far cry from attempted murder”, the defence said.

Court documents showed Fabio Perrone, along with his alleged co-offenders, were accused of torching both a Range Rover and Toyota Corolla.

All five men were charged with murder, attempted murder and criminal damage by fire, police said.

Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable Kate Shell, speaking during Fabio Perrone’s matter, said police needed 12 weeks to collate hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, phone records and DNA evidence. Officers had seized more than 20 devices, Shell said.

“While it has been almost a two-year investigation, I haven’t spent that two years putting CCTV together,” Shell told the court. “It needs to be presented together. I can’t give half a brief [of evidence] over … it’s going to take time.”

Magistrate Tim Schocker granted the police request for extra time to collate evidence.

The five men are next due to face court on December 4. The court was told it was the first time in custody for Dion Perrone, Bayrouty, Behrndt and Sayan.

Thomas earlier said there was no evidence at this stage to suggest that tobacco kingpin in exile Kazem “Kaz” Hamad was behind the hit, or that the murder was connected to Melbourne’s tobacco war and the attack on Sonsa, but investigators were keeping an open mind.

“At this stage, we believe that this was a targeted attack, and we are confident that there is some organised crime involvement in this. We keep an open mind as to what that is,” Thomas said.

Police believe there are more people with direct knowledge of the motive and of those involved, including those who may have financed and ordered the hit.

Thomas said the shooting was incredibly violent and had exposed innocent members of the public to serious potential harm.

“It shows immense disregard for human life, and it could have ended in the deaths of more people,” he said.

Police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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