THE final member of a Nomads outlaw bikie group accused of seeking retaliation and payback against two SA men has been refused bail and remanded in custody.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court today rejected the man’s plea to return to NSW, and to his pregnant partner, under home detention conditions.
Magistrate Jayne Basheer ruled the man’s personal situation was not enough to clear the hurdle of SA law, which denies bikies bail except in special circumstances.
“I have had regard to the gravity of the alleged offending, the likelihood that he would intimidate or suborn witnesses if released,” she said.
“I have also considered the court’s obligation to give primary consideration to the victims’ concerns and fears of retaliation and retribution by this man, or by the Nomads gang.
“For those reasons, bail is refused.”
The man, whose identity is suppressed, is one of 12 Nomads bikies arrested during last week’s raids by SA and NSW police.
Four, including one supported by the gang’s national president, Sleiman “Simon” Tajjour, were remanded in custody last week.
Seven more joined them in custody yesterday, while the final member’s bail application was adjourned until today.
Each has yet to plead to a raft of blackmail, assault and threaten harm charges taking place at locations across Adelaide between November 2014 and March this year.
A final co-accused remains at large and is the subject of an arrest warrant.
Prosecutors have alleged the first man was threatened and blackmailed by a group of Nomads who flew into Adelaide from Sydney last year.
He was allegedly ordered to hand over $30,000 and two vehicles, and threatened with having his throat slit, having his eyes “cut out”, being shot and having his family killed.
The court has yet to hear details of the alleged offending against the second man.
The identities of both alleged victims, and any information which would tend to identify them, are suppressed.
Today, Ms Basheer noted that, according to the evidence, the man had played a lesser role in the alleged offending.
She said it appeared, based on witness statements, one of the men who faced court last week “was on a frolic” and had led the action against the two victims.
However, she said that did not detract from the seriousness of the man’s involvement in the alleged offending, which was still being investigated by SA and NSW police.
“This investigation is now at a very sensitive stage, and that is a relevant factor to consider (in determining bail),” she said.
“At the end of the day, this is very serious offending and the prosecution case is indicative of it being a very serious example of this type of offending.”
She remanded the man in custody to face court again in August.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/national/sa-court-denies-bail-to-final-member-of-nomads-bikie-group-facing-vicious-blackmail-charges/story-fnii5yv8-1227379390476
The Adelaide Magistrates Court today rejected the man’s plea to return to NSW, and to his pregnant partner, under home detention conditions.
Magistrate Jayne Basheer ruled the man’s personal situation was not enough to clear the hurdle of SA law, which denies bikies bail except in special circumstances.
“I have had regard to the gravity of the alleged offending, the likelihood that he would intimidate or suborn witnesses if released,” she said.
“I have also considered the court’s obligation to give primary consideration to the victims’ concerns and fears of retaliation and retribution by this man, or by the Nomads gang.
“For those reasons, bail is refused.”
The man, whose identity is suppressed, is one of 12 Nomads bikies arrested during last week’s raids by SA and NSW police.
Four, including one supported by the gang’s national president, Sleiman “Simon” Tajjour, were remanded in custody last week.
Seven more joined them in custody yesterday, while the final member’s bail application was adjourned until today.
Each has yet to plead to a raft of blackmail, assault and threaten harm charges taking place at locations across Adelaide between November 2014 and March this year.
A final co-accused remains at large and is the subject of an arrest warrant.
Prosecutors have alleged the first man was threatened and blackmailed by a group of Nomads who flew into Adelaide from Sydney last year.
He was allegedly ordered to hand over $30,000 and two vehicles, and threatened with having his throat slit, having his eyes “cut out”, being shot and having his family killed.
The court has yet to hear details of the alleged offending against the second man.
The identities of both alleged victims, and any information which would tend to identify them, are suppressed.
Today, Ms Basheer noted that, according to the evidence, the man had played a lesser role in the alleged offending.
She said it appeared, based on witness statements, one of the men who faced court last week “was on a frolic” and had led the action against the two victims.
However, she said that did not detract from the seriousness of the man’s involvement in the alleged offending, which was still being investigated by SA and NSW police.
“This investigation is now at a very sensitive stage, and that is a relevant factor to consider (in determining bail),” she said.
“At the end of the day, this is very serious offending and the prosecution case is indicative of it being a very serious example of this type of offending.”
She remanded the man in custody to face court again in August.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/national/sa-court-denies-bail-to-final-member-of-nomads-bikie-group-facing-vicious-blackmail-charges/story-fnii5yv8-1227379390476