Bikies’ victim on a hit list, court told
A man allegedly abducted at gunpoint and assaulted by Lone Wolf bikie gang members over a drug debt of more than $50,000 was on a “hit list” with 13 other names, a Perth court was told yesterday.
Covertly recorded vision of the man being chased, wearing cuffs dangling from one hand, led into a room and hit on the head was played to Perth Magistrate’s Court as police argued against a bail application by two of the four men charged over the April incident.
Magistrate Leanne Atkins refused bail, saying she feared that if Shaun Maurice Quinlan and Roberto Anthony Rogato were freed they might try to coerce witnesses, adding she had fears for other people on the “hit list”.
She denied bail after being told police had recordings of jail phone calls indicating the gang was trying to influence people to change statements, with evidence of one man who was wearing Lone Wolf insignia visiting a key witness.
Prosecutor Sgt Guy Murphy told the court the four accused — Matthew George Floyd, Michael James Simpson, Mr Quinlan and Mr Rogato — were either members or nominees of the Lone Wolf gang. Mr Floyd was said to be the gang’s acting WA president.
Sgt Murphy said Lone Wolf had affiliations spanning the world, and members of the WA chapter had criminal records including attempted murder, threats to kill, grievous bodily harm, drug trafficking and dealing, firearms and explosives.
He said other senior club members had been arrested this year on charges relating to kilograms of methamphetamine allegedly destined for Perth streets.
The gang had been under “intense” police scrutiny and its clubhouse, eight Harley-Davidson motorcycles and other property had been seized or frozen.
Sgt Murphy said no bail conditions could be imposed to protect the victim and witnesses, there was a significant risk of further offences and the accused were likely to interfere with witnesses.
Defence lawyer Nick Scerri said both men had dependent families and financial commitments, and had “significant reasons to behave themselves”.
All four men were remanded until September.
