AN outlaw bikie from Albania who escaped from a Melbourne detention centre has been deported “under heavy escort”.
Leonard Gjeka, a man with an extensive criminal history in South Australia and strong connections to Adelaide’s bikie groups, escaped from the Maribyrnong Detention Centre on November 12 but was recaptured nine days later.
He spent 42 days in prison following his break out and last night arrived back in Albania under armed guard.
Newly appointed Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Mr Gjeka’s removal should serve as a warning to other bikies.
“I make absolutely no excuses for removing a person of Mr Gjeka’s character,” Mr Dutton said. “He has been involved in extremely violent offences in Adelaide and escaped from lawful detention.
“When I became Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, I made it perfectly clear that one of my priorities would be to remove bikies, who are not Australian citizens, from this country, if they are involved in crime. Mr Gjeka is a perfect example of somebody we do not want in this country.”
Mr Gjeka, 32, has been permanently barred from returning to Australia.
He arrived on a false passport and made numerous attempts to remain permanently but all failed.
“People who do not hold a valid visa, and have exhausted all avenues to remain, should leave Australia,” Mr Dutton said.
Mr Gjeka survived a shooting while on home detention in Adelaide in 2010, when a man disguised as a Telstra worker knocked on his door and fired three shots.
Two men were found guilty of attempted murder over the shooting, but won an appeal and the charges were later dropped.
He faced court himself over a brawl in an Adelaide hotel on Melbourne Cup day in 2011, but charges were also dropped in that case.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/outlaw-bikie-deported-to-albania/story-e6frg6nf-1227171263022?nk=049ed5510b975d85b6269b1de1b33f12
Leonard Gjeka, a man with an extensive criminal history in South Australia and strong connections to Adelaide’s bikie groups, escaped from the Maribyrnong Detention Centre on November 12 but was recaptured nine days later.
He spent 42 days in prison following his break out and last night arrived back in Albania under armed guard.
Newly appointed Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said Mr Gjeka’s removal should serve as a warning to other bikies.
“I make absolutely no excuses for removing a person of Mr Gjeka’s character,” Mr Dutton said. “He has been involved in extremely violent offences in Adelaide and escaped from lawful detention.
“When I became Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, I made it perfectly clear that one of my priorities would be to remove bikies, who are not Australian citizens, from this country, if they are involved in crime. Mr Gjeka is a perfect example of somebody we do not want in this country.”
Mr Gjeka, 32, has been permanently barred from returning to Australia.
He arrived on a false passport and made numerous attempts to remain permanently but all failed.
“People who do not hold a valid visa, and have exhausted all avenues to remain, should leave Australia,” Mr Dutton said.
Mr Gjeka survived a shooting while on home detention in Adelaide in 2010, when a man disguised as a Telstra worker knocked on his door and fired three shots.
Two men were found guilty of attempted murder over the shooting, but won an appeal and the charges were later dropped.
He faced court himself over a brawl in an Adelaide hotel on Melbourne Cup day in 2011, but charges were also dropped in that case.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/outlaw-bikie-deported-to-albania/story-e6frg6nf-1227171263022?nk=049ed5510b975d85b6269b1de1b33f12