McGurk murder link to $150m fraud

Sydney police investigating $150 million in mortgage fraud are examining possible links to two murders, including the execution of businessman Michael McGurk.The New South Wales Fraud Squad claimed its biggest scalp over the alleged racket yesterday, when the president of the Hells Angels' Sydney chapter handed himself in.Felix Lyle, 54, is trying to raise $100,000 to be released on bail after becoming the 16th person charged over the alleged scams.Fraud Squad Commander Col Dyson says the group is involved in two separate fraud rings linked to Mr McGurk that have used the names of the dead and vulnerable to obtain at least $15 million in loans."All financial institutions have been touched in some way," Detective Superintendent Dyson said.He says the strike force investigating the fraud is...

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Posted in McGurk murder link to $150m fraud

GUNS. Drugs. Bikies. Gangsters. Los Angeles or Miami? Melbourne or Sydney? Try the Gold Coast.

Three fatal shootings in seven weeks, including the slaying of police officer Damian Leeding as he burst in on an armed robbery in progress at a suburban tavern, has long-time locals wondering what has become of their once-idyllic seaside town.The Gold Coast's latest tourism slogan is "Famous for Fun" but it could easily be "Famous for Guns", says veteran Southport criminal lawyer Bill Potts.Potts, who has been practising on the Coast for more than three decades, says his hometown has become crime central."The place is awash with drugs and more and more people packing guns," he says."And as we've seen with tragic consequences in recent weeks, they're more than willing to use them."I've lived here for almost as long as Potts and can remember the days when an armed robbery was such big news...

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Posted in GUNS. Drugs. Bikies. Gangsters. Los Angeles or Miami? Melbourne or Sydney? Try the Gold Coast.

Bikies deny extorting Raymond Terrace tattooist for 'protection

Three members of a Newcastle bikie gang pleaded not guilty yesterday to almost 30 extortion charges relating to thousands of dollars in payments for protection that were allegedly made by a Raymond Terrace tattooist.One of the men, who police allege is a senior member of the gang, pleaded not guilty in Newcastle District Court to attending the William Street business with another senior member in May 2010 and demanding payments.They are accused of making threats before agreeing to accept weekly payments in exchange for protection three days after the parlour opened for business.The three men who appeared yesterday, but who cannot be identified because of other court proceedings, will face trial in October.All three pleaded not guilty to the charge that they made threats to damage property...

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Posted in Bikies deny extorting Raymond Terrace tattooist for 'protection

WEST Australian police officer has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice after allegedly concocting a traffic stop so she could dodge a speeding fine.

Police allege that in the early hours of September 21 last year, the officer drove a police car through an intersection in South Perth and was recorded going 72km/h in a 60km/h zone by a speed camera.It's alleged she then stopped a random vehicle and made an entry in her notebook falsely stating she undertook the stop before the speed camera was activated."This entry was made knowing it to be false and with the intention of creating a defence under Regulation 280 of the Road Traffic Code," WA Police said.The officer had not been on a task that would provide an exemption as an emergency vehicle, police said.A further false entry was later made on a tasking running sheet.The 39-year-old officer has been summonsed to appear in the Perth Court of Petty Sessions on August 8 and has been stood aside...

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Posted in WEST Australian police officer has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice after allegedly concocting a traffic stop so she could dodge a speeding fine.

Police have offered a $100,000 reward for information about the disappearance and presumed death of a Sydney man who went missing nearly a year ago.

The sister of 30-year-old Mohammed Ayman Abouhait pleaded today for anyone with information about her brother's presumed death to come forward."If something has happened to my brother, let us know so we can finally come to terms with it and grieve properly," Inas Karem said."Don't leave us wondering. Please, if you know anything about Mohammed's disappearance and suspected murder, I appeal to you to come forward and speak with police."Mr Abouhait was reported missing to police on July 30 last year after his girlfriend and family members were unable to contact him.He was last seen five days earlier, leaving a house in Basilisk Place at Whalan in Sydney's west.There were also reports that Mr Abouhait was seen on the same day with a man of Asian appearance in Boronia Road at nearby North St Marys.Ms...

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Posted in 000 reward for information about the disappearance and presumed death of a Sydney man who went missing nearly a year ago. , Police have offered a $100

Police officers who leak information to outlaw bikie gangs

Police officers who leak information to outlaw bikie gangs and other criminal enterprises will be found, prosecuted and sacked, the heads of the NSW and Victorian police forces have warned.Both police operations on Tuesday faced allegations that a small number of officers had engaged in corrupt behaviour, after investigations were initiated last year by anti-corruption organisations independent of police.Victoria's Office of Police Integrity (OPI) and the Police Integrity Commission in NSW are conducting separate investigations into the alleged offences."The unauthorised release of information corruptly is a betrayal," NSW Police commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters in Sydney."It's a betrayal of the community that we serve. It's a betrayal of the officers that serve in the organisation."Victorian...

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Posted in Police officers who leak information to outlaw bikie gangs

THE best friend of missing former Gypsy Jokers president Steve Williams will spend at least another 14 months in jail for blackmailing a man over a $100,000 debt.

Jason Lee Kingston, 34, protected a fellow inmate in jail for $30,000 but later threatened to kill him when he did not pay upon his release.In the District Court today, Judge Dean Clayton said the victim received a threatening phone call from Kingston in August 2008 asking him to meet at a car yard.When the victim and his brother arrived they were greeted by Kingston and his co-accused, Travis Lemm, 31, who increased the debt to $100,000."The threat was made by Travis Lemm in the presence of Jason Kingston that unless the sum of $100,000 was paid, Travis Lemm would shoot (the victim) and his brother dead," Judge Clayton said."The conversation went like this: `I'm Travis from the Finks. You have to pay $100,000. If you don't, I'll shoot you in the head and then I'll shoot you, that's how we...

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Posted in 000 debt. , THE best friend of missing former Gypsy Jokers president Steve Williams will spend at least another 14 months in jail for blackmailing a man over a $100

POLICE have seized an AK-47 assault rifle following the arrest of two men over a string of armed robberies across Melbourne's north.

Special Operations Group officers executed a search warrant at a Glenroy house about 11pm yesterday, finding the weapon and taking the men into custody.They are believed responsible for at least five robberies or attempted robberies at liquor outlets and a bank over the last five weeks.A Brunswick East bottle shop and a Bundoora supermarket were also robbed last night before the arrests.The men, a 35-year-old from Glenroy and a 49-year-old from Craigieburn, are being interviewed.They are expected to front Melbourne Magistrates' Court later this morni...

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Posted in POLICE have seized an AK-47 assault rifle following the arrest of two men over a string of armed robberies across Melbourne's north.

bikie has been charged with kicking a man as he lay on the ground during a violent road rage incident.

He's the second man from a motorcycle gang to be charged over the attack at Seven Hills, in Sydney's west, earlier this month.A 40-year-old man was driving with his wife along Artillery Road when he inadvertently sounded his horn about 10am (AEST) on July 2.A man sitting in the passenger seat of a four-wheel drive behind them got out and started kicking the couple's car and punching the man's head, police allege.He then went back to the four-wheel-drive which drove away.But it returned to the scene moments later and both the driver and passenger got out of the car.They allegedly punched the man until he fell to the ground and then kicked him as he lay on the ground.He was treated in hospital for extensive bruising to his face, neck and torso.A 28-year-old associate member of the Bandidos was...

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Posted in bikie has been charged with kicking a man as he lay on the ground during a violent road rage incident.

Sword used in pizza delivery robbery

Police say a sword was brandished during a robbery of a pizza delivery man in Sydney's north-west last night.The 20-year-old was delivering food to two women standing on the footpath on Henry Street at Ryde just before 11:00pm (AEST).Police say four men, two of them armed with a sword and hunting knife, then appeared from a nearby park and threatened the man.The women and men then ran back into the park with cash and the pizzas.Police searched the area soon afterwards but did not find the offenders.&nb...

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Posted in Sword used in pizza delivery robbery

Shooting at John Ibrahim's eastern suburbs mansion

Detectives and crime scene police have converged on the eastern suburbs manison of Sydney nightclub identity John Ibrahim after reports it had been targeted by gunmen in a drive-by shooting today.Organised crime squad police have confirmed that a number of bullet cartridges have been found on the road outside the house in George Street, Dover Heights.Officers from Rose Bay police have sealed off the scene while detectives interview two people inside the home, one of several in the street purchased by Mr Ibrahim and have yet to establish the exact time of the shooting.Advertisement: Story continues belowPolice said in a brief statement that the first report received of an incident in the street was about 11.30am today. They would not confirm if Mr Ibrahim was one of the people inside the premises.The...

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Posted in Shooting at John Ibrahim's eastern suburbs mansion