Andrew Rule and Dan Oakes
January 20, 2008
A LONG-SERVING employee of the police forensic science unit charged with drug offences on Friday is an outlaw motorcycle club member under investigation for the alleged pack rape of a teenager last February.Scott Hurley, 37, of Sunshine, appeared at an out-of-sessions hearing on Friday, charged with four counts of trafficking, four counts of possessing a drug of dependence and one count each of handling stolen goods, cultivating a drug of dependence and possessing proceeds of crime. He was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 27.
Police sources told The Sunday Age that Hurley was one of five Black Uhlans motorcycle gang members investigated for the alleged rape of a 19-year-old woman in a Lakes Entrance motel.
A police spokesman could not confirm last night whether any charges had been laid against Mr Hurley or the other four men over the alleged rape.
When Sexual Crimes Squad members arrived at Lakes Entrance to investigate the rape last February, three of the bikies denied that a sexual assault had taken place, while two declined to talk to police.
But detectives soon established that Hurley was an associate member of the Black Uhlans and worked for the Victoria Police Vehicle Examination Unit in Macleod. He is not a sworn police officer but has worked for the unit since he was a teenager.
Hurley continued to work at the forensic unit until his arrest on the drug charges on Friday following a lengthy investigation by the police force's internal investigators, the Ethical Standards Department.
He was questioned about trafficking of cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis and ecstasy before being charged.The VEU is an arm of the forensic science centre and examines vehicles thought to be stolen or "rebirthed". As an employee, Hurley had access to suspect vehicles.
Detectives are believed to have investigated whether he could have gained unauthorised access to drug-testing laboratories at the complex.
Earlier this month The Sunday Age revealed that a staff member at the forensic unit was under investigation over missing drugs.
Car theft and rebirthing have been identified by law-enforcement agencies as an area that has lured outlaw motorcycle gangs as they expand criminal networks built largely on drugs.
An Australian Crime Commission report recently warned that bikie gangs were becoming "more sophisticated and dynamic", as well as diversifying their criminal activities.
"Such
offences
include
murder,
firearms,
illicit
drugs
supply
and
production,
extortion,
prostitution,
serious
assault,
sexual
assault,
arson,
robbery,
theft,
vehicle
rebirthing,
receiving
stolen
property,
fraud,
money
laundering,
corruption
and
bribing
officials
and
perverting
the
course
of
justice,"
the
report
said.
The
report
said
that
in
2005-06,
10
outlaw
motorcycle
gangs
opened
26
new
chapters
in
six
states
and
territories.
The
commission
estimates
that
35
gangs
operate
in
Australia
with
a
core
of
3500
full
members
—
with
many
more
associates,
nominees
and
prospective
members.
Six
years
ago
police
smashed
a
fake
transport
licence
racket
involving
a
senior
employee
of
VicRoads,
who
was
selling
licences
to
members
of
the
Outlaws
motorcycle
gang.
In
another
report
released
on
Friday,
the
commission
warned
that
organised
crime
was
a
$10
billion
industry
with
tentacles
in
drugs
and
child
pornography.
The
commission's
chief
executive,
Alastair
Milroy,
warned
that
those
tentacles
are
spreading
as
criminals
target
any
area
that
offers
a
good
return.
The
report
also
warned
about
links
between
organised
crime
and
potential
terrorists
—
groups
that
also
use
violence,
identity
theft
and
corruption
to
pursue
their
own
ends.
The
report
reveals
difficulties
faced
by
law
enforcement,
with
members
of
crime
groups
taking
jobs
at
reputable
companies
and
establishing
links
with
police.
