Australasian Biker News
Bikie 'using puppets to get bail'
Article from: The Advertiser
SEAN FEWSTER, COURT REPORTER
April 01, 2008 04:20pm
A SENIOR member of the Rebels Motorcycle Gang is using "puppets" to try
and secure his release on bail, a court has heard.
Prosecutors today accused Guy Anthony Clift of having the parents of
gang associates volunteer to be his guarantors.
They said Clift's mother-in-law had been suggested as a guarantor when,
according to telephone intercepts, she "hates him".
Clift's lawyers, meanwhile, said prosecutors were "crying wolf" and
laying new charges against their client just to keep him in custody.
The 34-year-old, of Flagstaff Hill, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates
Court today.
He has yet to plead to charges of trafficking a large quantity of
commercial ecstasy, money laundering and unlawful possession.
Today, prosecutor Elizabeth Griffith laid two new charges – possessing a
weapon and conspiracy to assault another person.
She said four people suggested by Clift as potential guarantors –
including his mother-in-law – were "unsuitable" according to "police
intelligence".
"One is the father of a 'nom' or prospective member of the Rebels, one
is a known associate of a fellow member and one is a woman linked to
these charges," she said.
"She is more like his puppet.
"His defacto's mother is recorded, on telephone intercepts, as saying
she hates him."
Ms Griffith said Clift's partner – who has cervical cancer – had been
observed packing up their home and storing their belongings "under
assumed names".
Andrew Moffa, for Clift, said there was "no risk" of his client fleeing
the state.
"It truly does seem that anyone suggested as a guarantor is, according
to 'intelligence', unsuitable," he said.
"It's almost akin to a boy crying wolf – the more it's said, the less
weight it has.
"(It's also) such a coincidence these new charges were laid in time for
this bail hearing."
Magistrate Alfio Grasso, however, said the allegations were "too
serious" to grant Clift bail.
He remanded him in custody to appear again in a fortnight