A man has been charged over the brazen cold-case assassination of an alleged underworld figure in a packed nightclub precinct.
Mohammed Keshtiar, known as ‘Afghan Ali’, had been walking with another man when he was gunned down by a drive-by shooter in a laneway off Melbourne’s popular Chapel Street precinct in South Yarra on August 4, 2023.
A 23-year-old Narre Warren man was arrested on Friday and charged with murder and conduct endangering life.
Mr Keshtiar and his associate had been walking on Almeida Crescent after a gym session when a stolen grey Prado approached and a passenger fired multiple shots in their direction, police said.
A person in dark clothing then got out of the car and fired several more rounds at Mr Keshtiar as he lay incapacitated on the ground.
The gunman made a quick getaway in the car, which was later found on fire in Endeavour Hills.
Passers-by attempted to help the 53-year-old but he died in hospital, while his associate was not hurt and fled the scene to safety.
A $1 million reward was offered in September for information to help solve the cold-case murder.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas at the time described the incident as a ‘deliberate, planned and organised assassination’ and a concerning display of public violence.
He said Mr Keshtiar was linked to a number of outlaw motorcycle gangs and associated with Middle Eastern-organised crime groups.
Detectives had been keeping an open mind over whether the killing was linked to a ongoing underworld war over the profits of illegal tobacco.
The accused is due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.