Tobacco kingpin's arson tasker says he's changed

A criminal taskmaster who directed arson attacks on rivals on behalf of an underworld tobacco kingpin has cut ties with the organisation and turned his life around, a court has been told.

Majid Alibadi, 27, was a middleman in the illicit tobacco syndicate allegedly run by boss Kazem "Kaz" Hamad out of the Middle East.

As an "upper-level manager", he held "positive" relationships with Kazem and a relative, and orchestrated firebombings and car thefts across Melbourne, prosecutor Deanna Caruso said.

Ms Caruso said Alibadi acted as a "liaison" for the Hamads and would plan attacks, counsel henchmen, procure items to help them complete their tasks and provide feedback.

These included two arsons on the Karizma restaurant in Docklands in November 2023 and the Melrose reception centre in Melbourne's northwest that December, totalling more than $2 million in damages.

Alibadi has pleaded guilty to arson, incitement and thefts of motor vehicles and appeared before the Victorian County Court on Wednesday for a pre-sentence hearing.

While not alleged to have lit fires, the prosecutor said he was seen in their vicinity.

The Hamad and Alibadi families had a long-running association, stemming back to the same village in Iraq, defence barrister Dermot Dann KC said.

But that connection between his client and the Hamads had severed since Kazem was imprisoned in Iraq and the relative was in custody in Western Australia, Mr Dann said.

Alibadi had been earmarked by prison authorities as a vulnerable inmate to be kept in solitary confinement due to his connection to the Hamad family, his barrister said.

He referred to a report where Alibadi spoke of his criminal associations and his desire to start afresh.

In the two-and-a-half years since his arrest, Alibadi has been living at home with his family, started a relationship, obtained work and been following strict bail conditions.

"Your Honour should be satisfied his rehabilitation (prospects) are exceptional," Mr Dann said.

The defence argued for a combination jail term and community corrections order, citing Alibadi's remorse, refusal to deflect blame and acknowledgement of the harm inflicted.