Australasian Biker News
Bikie leader wins $2.4m fraud case
Dylan Welch
May 28, 2009
Rebels bikie president Alex Vella has won a case against ANZ bank
involving a former business partner who mortgaged three of his
properties and absconded with hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In a judgment handed down in the Supreme Court, Justice Peter Young
ruled the three mortgaged properties should be returned to Mr Vella and
$150,000 in stolen funds be returned to him.
The case revolves around the relationship between Mr Vella, a property
investor, car collector and national president of the Rebels Motorcycle
Club, and his one-time friend Tony Caradonna, a former boxing promoter.
The two men had formed a promotions company together in February 2006 -
Velladonna Promotions - but the relationship turned sour later that year
when Caradonna forged Mr Vella's signature to obtain mortgages on
several properties owned by the bikie boss and took $300,000 from a
shared account with ANZ bank.
Mr Vella had previously told the court that he had trouble reading and
Caradonna had helped him with business documents.
Caradonna did not attend previous hearings of the civil case, but on May
20 he was arrested by the Fraud Squad and charged in relation to alleged
frauds totalling more than $4 million.
Part of that $4 million is believed to be the $2.4 million involved in
the Vella case.
During a court hearing on May 21, Caradonna's lawyer asked that his
client be placed in protective custody because one of his alleged
victims was Mr Vella.
Protection was necessary because Caradonna had received death threats
and had been kidnapped previously, his lawyer said.
It was reported in 2006 that he was "safeguarded" by police after an
unspecified incident at an M4 tollbooth.
Outside court today Mr Vella, sporting his trademark long mullet,
wearing a dark suit and snakeskin cowboy boots, said he was relieved the
case had finally been settled.
Mr Vella's solicitor, Maurice May, said the protective custody claims
were "outrageous".
"Mr Caradonna, in the course of these proceedings, has made a number of
attempts to contact my client, Mr Vella, who refused to see him," he
said.
"So for Mr Caradonna to say that he's afraid of Mr Vella is just
absolute nonsense."
Mr Vella said he was "very happy" the case had finally been resolved.
"It's been a long time, believe me. I travelled to the city [from
Horsley Park] many times, sometimes three times a week, dealing with
lawyers and it's been very hectic.
"But I'm glad it's over and I'm happy with the decision."
When asked if more bikies would be seeking to settle disputes in court
following his win, Mr Vella smiled.
"It's not about bikies, it's about honesty," he said.
"And I proved my point because I was honest about it."