Bikie brawlers let off by loophole

 

THE State Government has been asked to close a legal loophole that allowed 10 Hells Angels to escape charges. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras, QC, has confirmed he met Attorney-General John Rau to discuss a flaw in the Criminal Law Consolidation Act relating to charges of riot, affray and violent disorder, after the dramatic development in the high-profile bikie case this month. Aggravated riot charges were dropped on March 1 against all Hells Angels members involved in the city nightclub brawl in Hindley St last May. Eleven members and associates of the Finks also involved in the brawl are still facing similar charges. No explanation was given why the prosecution withdrew charges against the Hells Angels members. The Sunday Mail  has since learnt they were dropped because the Hells Angels could have argued they acted in self-defence after they were set upon by Finks bikies, which would have seen the case against them fail. RELATED COVERAGE DPP fury as bikie violence spreads The Australian, 31 Jan 2012 RAH opens after package alert Herald Sun, 31 Jan 2012 Bikie boss found guilty of murder Foundation, 2 Nov 2011 Brawl death: Bikie boss found guilty of murder Adelaide Now, 2 Nov 2011 Hells Angels, Finks bikies on riot charges Adelaide Now, 4 Oct 2011 CCTV footage of the club brawl allegedly shows the Finks were the aggressors, even though both gangs continued fighting for some time. Mr Pallaras said he met Mr Rau because he wanted to "alert him to my concerns" and to "try and solve the problem before it occurs again". "I can't talk about the specifics of the meeting but ... I discussed with him some views I had on how we might avoid similar results in future cases," he said. Although he would not comment on the dropping of the Hells Angels charges as the matter is still before court, Mr Pallaras said: "Legally, it was clear that we had to do it. "It was difficult in a sense that it highlighted the fact we may have problems in the future with the legislation as it currently stands. The solution is not easy." Mr Rau confirmed Mr Pallaras raised "serious concerns" with him at the effectiveness of the legislation. "I want to make sure that offenders who engage in this sort of behaviour are able to be prosecuted," he said. "I am anticipating advice from the DPP about ways to tighten the law. Any recommendations will be taken to Cabinet level for consideration." It is understood any amendments to the Act will revolve around the definition of self-defence. The Government amended the Criminal Law Consolidation Act in 2010 to introduce new offences of riot, affray and violent disorder as part of its package of legislation to combat bikie gangs. The offence of riot carries a maximum penalty of seven years' jail and the aggravated offence carries a maximum 10-year term. Affray carries a maximum three-year term, aggravated affray five years and violent disorder two years or a $10,000 fine. Senior police declined to comment on the loophole in the Act, but it is known SAPOL has been asked to write a submission on any changes that may be needed to the legislation following discussions with the DPP. Rank-and-file detectives involved in policing bikies are bewildered at the loophole. "We were initially astounded when the charges were withdrawn," a senior detective said. "Often we may not know who started an altercation involving gang members and only find out after they have been charged, so it presents a unique problem that needs to be sorted out."

ONE of Australia's most wanted crime figures, Comanchero bikie drug supplier Hakan Ayik, is suspected by authorities of setting up a ''super'' drug laboratory

March 25, 2012

IN india capable of exporting tonnes of methamphetamine around the world.

The lab was investigated by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Australian and Indian authorities in 2010. The agencies suspect it was designed to facilitate industrial-scale illicit drug production.

Read an edited extract from The Sting: Australia’s plot to crack a global drug empire

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It is the second recent example of Australian bikie groups setting up operating hubs in south Asia - where the precursor chemicals needed to make amphetamines can be legally sourced in large quantities - in order to facilitate crime.

Law enforcement officials also believe that one of Melbourne's most notorious organised crime bosses - who is associated with the Black Uhlans outlaw motorcycle gang - has established ties with figures in Pakistan, including a senior government official, as part of plans to conduct drug importations or engage in money laundering.

The links in Pakistan also give associates of the crime figure access to lucrative Pakistani government contracts.

The revelation of the expansion into south Asia of local bikie outfits provides an insight into the increasingly transnational nature of Australian crime groups and the challenges facing police in combating them.

It comes as the Gillard government pushes for uniform anti-bikie laws to be introduced across Australia in a move that is likely to trigger resistance from bikie clubs and civil libertarians.

Last week, Victoria Police acting Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer warned that Australian bikie clubs were expanding aggressively overseas, including in Spain, Thailand and Indonesia.

It is believed the US Drug Enforcement Agency and Indian authorities gathered intelligence revealing that Ayik had travelled in early 2010 to India, where he sought to buy an industrial pharmaceutical factory able to produce half a tonne of methamphetamine every week.

He is also suspected of having sourced from Indian suppliers large amounts of precursor chemicals that could be used to make a multimillion-dollar shipment of methamphetamine.

About the same time as he was preparing to launch his Indian venture, Ayik sent a message on a Korean internet dating site that stated that he had travelled from Hong Kong to India ''on a business trip''.

A source close to the US agency said it was believed that Ayik, 33, was associating with a roving international crew of criminal associates engaged in large-scale drug production and trafficking from India.

Ayik was thought by Indian police and US officials to have plans to move the drugs by boat across Asia and into Australia, where they would have been distributed by the Comancheros and other bikie groups.

By the time Indian authorities swooped on runners for the crime syndicate in August 2010 - arresting six Iranian chemists and a Dutch national - Ayik had fled.

Senior Mumbai police official Yashodhan Wanage told an Indian newspaper six months ago that ''these meth lab busts have proven beyond a doubt that international cartels are operating in India. All the methamphetamine seized has been for export only.''

Ayik, who is on the run overseas, is the subject of an outstanding Australian police arrest warrant over his suspected involvement in the importation into Australia in July 2010 of 220 kilograms of heroin.

The New South Wales police describe him as one of their most wanted suspects.

In his absence, Australian authorities have been quietly moving to seize his assets. Late last year, the NSW Crime Commission went to court to seize Ayik's Harley-Davidson, his apartment in Sydney's Chinatown and his shareholdings in several companies.

Ayik's role in the Indian venture was uncovered during research for a new book on organised crime in Australia, The Sting, which is published by Melbourne University Press.

Wheels of Soul outlaw motorcycle gang member pleads guilty

 

Allan "Dog" Hunter, 33, of Chicago, was present during the March 6, 2011, shooting death of Javell T. Thornton, 32, also of Chicago, at 126 South Main St. according to a federal indictment. As part of his plea, Hunter, a member of the Wheels of Soul outlaw motorcycle gang, admitted Thursday in federal court that he conspired with other members of the gang to dispose of several firearms after the shooting. WOS was in Marion for a meeting at a private motorcycle club. In the early morning hours of March 6, a fight at the gang's after-hours party spilled onto the sidewalk on South Main Street. When the dust settled, three men were injured with stab and gunshot wounds, and Thornton was dead. The federal indictment states that Anthony R. Robinson shot three victims in the back as they fled the party, killing Thornton and seriously injuring another. Hunter reportedly fired a handgun indiscriminately into the crowd while wearing a bulletproof vest. Robinson has been indicted on one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity and one count of attempt to commit murder in aid of racketeering, along with other federal charges for murder and racketeering activities in other states, according to the federal indictment. Eighteen members of the WOS were indicted on federal charges June 9, 2011. One member allegedly stabbed another person in the head during a fight at a Chicago motorcycle club, then shot another in the stomach. The indictment says gang members are required to carry weapons - mostly guns, but also hammers, knives and other weapons.

The Hell’s Angels and Rock Machine are constantly trying to get established in every community

A couple of blatant scofflaws were given short shrift by police Sunday afternoon after a less than routine stop over a traffic violation. A motorcyclist flying the colours of a well-known outlaw biker gang drew police attention – not by bragging about his criminal affiliation with a vest bearing a “striker” emblem, but by speeding down Victoria Street at 95 kilometres per hour on Victoria Street. After doling out a $368 fine, three demerit points and towing the bike, police turned their attention to the biker’s friend who had come to pick up the stranded man. And again, it wasn’t the second man’s vest and striker emblem that turned police’s head, but the invalid insurance on his truck. So another fine was handed out – this one for $598 – along with a ticket for driving without insurance. Police will not name the biker gang in question since they don’t want to give the criminals notoriety, according to Staff Sgt. Grant Learned. However, he said presence of two gang members in town does not indicate that organized crime has gained a toehold in Kamloops. “The Hell’s Angels and Rock Machine are constantly trying to get established in every community,” said Learned. “But there is no chapter or clubhouse in Kamloops.” He said what’s more likely is a few individuals from an independent motorcycle group on the North Shore forged alliances with one of the rival outlaw gangs. “It’s not a strong presence here, but individuals here are trying to work up in the criminal organizations.” And although both men in Sunday’s incident were stopped for blatant violation of traffic laws, anyone clearly displaying affiliations with criminal gangs will attract unwanted police attention no matter what they’re up to, said Learned. “If anyone is flying those colours in this or any other community, they can expect to be checked out for who they are and what they’re doing in the community.” A third, law-abiding driver subsequently attended and gave the two men a ride.

Hells Angels bikie war will explode in Kings Cross.

 

POLICE investigating the Hells Angels have launched a new taskforce amid fears a full-blown bikie war will explode in Kings Cross. The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the operation, code-named Strike Force Cheviot, was set up after 40 to 50 members of the Hells Angels descended on the red-light district last month. Police believe the "unprecedented" act may have been designed to send a message to rival bikie group Nomads, which have long controlled security in the area. Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, commander of the NSW Gangs Squad, said police had been watching the situation closely since the February 5 incident. "Yes, we are aware and monitoring the situation with what happened at Kings Cross that night with the Hells Angels", Mr Katsogiannis told The Sunday Telegraph. "It was an unprecedented act from the Hells Angels and that's why it's important the Gangs Squad involved ourselves from the beginning. "Safety of the community is our top priority and we will not be allowing any OMCGs (outlaw motorcycle gangs) to carry on with that type of behaviour". Police are investigating a possible outbreak of violence between the Nomads and the Hells Angels, who have been on an expansion and recruitment drive for months around Sydney. It is one of several lines of inquiry being probed by Cheviot detectives. They are also looking at a credible allegation that Hells Angels members went to Kings Cross to confront a member of the Nomads clan who works in the area. The man, who for legal reasons cannot be named, was formerly a member of the Hells Angels but "patched over" several months ago. Since then he has been performing unofficial security tasks for nightclub premises in Kings Cross, including venues aligned with local identity John Ibrahim. Law enforcement sources said when the Hells Angels descended on the nightspot they arranged themselves across the road from a club where the man was believed to be working, and demanded he come outside. "That forms part of several lines of inquiry we are looking at," Mr Katsogiannis said, adding that officers from Strike Force Raptor were patrolling Kings Cross on the night of the incident and quelled the situation. "If they (Raptor police) didn't intervene at the time, it could have been a lot worse". Police have connected the Nomads member with some of the recent shootings across southwestern Sydney, all of which are under investigation. In November, The Sunday Telegraph revealed the individual was the target of a drive-by attack at an Oporto restaurant in Merrylands, which occurred two days after he was released from custody. Mr Katsogiannis said Strike Force Cheviot officers, would continue weekend patrols of Kings Cross to prevent any outbreaks of violence for "as long as it takes".