Bikie boss Greg Foley in court over charges relating to drugs, attempted kidnapping
- Richard Noone
- The Daily Telegraph
- May 04, 2015 3:33PM
Senior Bandido arrested, guns and drugs seized
But the solicitor for alleged Central Coast Bandidos chapter president Greg Foley told a bail hearing today his client was just a small business owner who ‘‘would be lucky to have $5.50’’.
He said most of the $3667.58 in cash seized under proceeds of crime laws by police during a raid of Foley’s gym on Friday was set aside ‘‘for rent’’.
The 34-year-old said little during his appearance via video link at Wyong Local Court in which he held up both hands with crossed fingers to his family and supporters seated in the front row.
Once one of Australia’s most promising kickboxers, Foley was charged with 14 offences including commercial drugs supply, weapons possession and kidnapping after he was among four people arrested in raids at his gym at Fountain Dale on the Coast and two properties at North Richmond.
In January the Gangs Squad formed Strike Force Badminton to investigate outlaw motorcycle gangs and their alleged involvement in the supply of illegal drugs on the Coast.
Part of that investigation centred on the bungled kidnapping of a man from the Waldorf Apartments at The Entrance early on Easter Monday.
The 33-year-old victim was able to escape and later notified police.
The court heard there was CCTV of the kidnapping bid which allegedly showed at least one of four men involved was armed with a pistol.
Foley’s solicitor Brad Kernick said the victim was facing court in July, when he would ‘‘almost certainly receive a custodial sentence’’ and had turned police informant, offering information ‘‘for a favourable outcome at sentencing’’.
He said even the police thought he was a liar reading from the facts ‘‘the victim commenced making a number of elaborate lies’’.
‘‘The police are saying this person is a liar. Then what strength would they rely on his evidence?’’ Mr Kernick asked the court.
Mr Kernick said Foley was a ‘‘collector’’ of medieval weapons and most of those seized by police were mounted as decorations at his gym.
He said while a small amount of drugs were found in his bedroom the majority – including what police listed as 750g of amphetamine – was found in common areas ‘‘open to the public’’.
He said police had failed to interview two women present during the alleged kidnapping including the victim’s girlfriend who could either substantiate or refute his claims.
‘‘The police in my view have not done an investigation thoroughly enough to prefer charges,’’ he told the court.
In opposing bail, the police prosecutor argued Foley made extremely serious threats to the victim, which were intercepted by police over some time, and that he posed a flight risk with ‘‘overseas investments’’ in Thailand and a share in a $5.5 million property in Greece.
Reading from the police facts, she claimed Foley threatened the victim ‘‘if I go to jail, I swear to God I will find someone to kill you’’.
‘‘He poses a risk of flight ... and with overseas investments he may not return,’’ she said.
Magistrate Susan McIntyre said there was an ‘‘old presumption of bail’’ but under new bail laws, defendants had to pass the ‘‘show cause test’’ for serious indictable offences.
She said Foley’s submissions were ‘‘unexceptional to the court’’ and refused bail.
‘‘I am not satisfied what has been put before me is exceptional,’’ she said.
The matter was adjourned to June 24.