Australasian Biker News

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Top Fink accused of restaurant shooting


February 6, 2008 - 1:06PM

A high-ranking bikie gang member has been charged over a shootout on a popular Sydney restaurant strip last November, police say.

The 33-year-old man, alleged to be a member of the Finks gang, was charged at Merrylands police station this morning over the shootout outside Grappa restaurant on Norton Street, Leichhardt, in the city's inner west.

The Granville man was charged with two counts of shooting with intent to murder, and one count each of shooting at a person with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, firing a firearm in a public place, and affray.

He was refused bail and was due to appear before Parramatta Local Court today.

Police allege five men went to Grappa restaurant about 2pm on November 15 and spoke to three other men.

After one of the men produced a gun, all eight left the restaurant, police said.

The group of three ran along Norton Street, pumping bullets from close range into a black Mercedes and black Mazda 6 sedan containing the other five men.

Two vehicles parked nearby and a house with people inside were also damaged by the gunfire.

The three men then got into a white four-door dual cab utility with an aluminium tray, which had been parked in Henderson Street, and drove off.

Police found the black Mercedes later in the day, with bullet holes in its bodywork, in the nearby suburb of Annandale.

Detectives from Strike Force Durra are still looking for another man allegedly involved in the brawl and shooting.

They are also searching for the stolen black Mazda 6 sedan, with NSW registration ASH 01E, and the white ute.

Anyone who saw either vehicle is urged not to approach it but to contact police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Mad Ron's bikie brother's shooting charge


Dylan Welch
February 6, 2008 - 3:23PM

A senior member of the Finks bikie gang charged over the shoot-out at a busy Leichhardt restaurant last year is the brother of one-time Schapelle Corby financier Ron Bakir.

Yassar Bakir, 33, was arrested this morning by detectives attached to Strike Force Durra, formed to investigate the shooting at Grappa, an Italian restaurant on Norton Street in Sydney's inner west.

He is the brother of phone entrepreneur and former Corby "white knight" financier Ron Bakir, who used to own Mad Ron's.

When contacted this afternoon Ron Bakir would not comment.

"I've got no interest in discussing the subject," he said.

Yassar Bakir was charged with attempting to murder Mahmoud Hawi, Daux Ngakuru and another unknown man during a shoot-out outside the restaurant about 2pm on November 15, according to documents tendered in court today.

Bakir - a large, muscular man with tattoos on both arms, a moustache and close-cropped black hair - faced Parramatta Local Court this afternoon, dressed in an orange T-shirt, blue shorts and sneakers without laces.

He did not apply for bail and will remain in jail until his next hearing at Parramatta Local Court on April 17, when he will appear via video link.

In a police charge sheet tendered in court the magistrate noted that Bakir "has been charged with similar offences in the past and is currently the subject of strict bail conditions as a result of those offences".

AAP reports: Police allege five men went to the restaurant on November 15 and spoke to three other men.

After one of the men produced a gun, all eight left the restaurant, police said.

The group of three ran along Norton Street, pumping bullets from close range into a black Mercedes and black Mazda 6 sedan containing the other five men.

The police charge sheet for Bakir, tendered to the court today, named two of the men they allegedly shot at as Hawi and Ngakuru.

Two vehicles parked nearby and a house with people inside were also damaged by the gunfire, police said.

After the shooting, the group of three had got into a white four-door dual cab utility with an aluminium tray, parked in Henderson Street, and drove off.

Police said they found the black Mercedes later in the day, with bullet holes in its bodywork, in the nearby suburb of Annandale.

Detectives from Strike Force Durra are still looking for another man allegedly involved in the brawl and shooting.

They are also searching for the stolen black Mazda 6 sedan, with NSW registration ASH 01E, and the white ute.

Anyone who saw either vehicle is urged not to approach it but to contact police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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