Finks motorcycle gang members
arrested after Ringwood police swoop
DECEMBER 16, 201512:59PM
Police remove a Motorcycle from Finks bikie club in Ringwood. Picture: Rob
Leeson.
THE Melbourne outlaw motorcycle gang leader who allegedly plotted
to kidnap a former associate begged to be released on bail to care for his dying
wife.
Finks Ringwood chapter president John Napolitano, 43, was one of 18 people
arrested on Tuesday in joint state and federal police raids.
The Finks’ Ringwood clubhouse and 19 other locations in Melbourne were targeted
as part of a four-month investigation.
Napolitano, Finks vice-president Joseph Girgis, 41, and sergeant-at-arms Jye
Carter, 36, were among at least seven alleged Finks members charged with serious
offences, who appeared before an out-of-sessions hearing on Tuesday night.
Detective Senior Constable Dean Vincent told the hearing the charges stemmed
from covert recordings.
He said Napolitano and others were heard discussing a plan to kidnap a former
Fink, who left the gang on bad terms, after a court appearance in Ringwood on
October 26.
Detective Vincent said Napolitano was heard telling gang members to “follow him,
wait until he gets into the backstreets and then bang bang, hit him”.
The man was to be taken to a bush location to settle a $2000 debt, Detective
Vincent said.
“The Finks have got to collect money. Tommy is worth another $2000,” the hearing
was told Napolitano had said.
Police foiled the alleged plot and intercepted one of two cars to be used in the
alleged kidnapping, seizing weapons including a baseball bat, a knife, a machete
and knuckle-dusters.
Napolitano applied for bail, saying he had never been jailed and that he needed
to get home to care for his terminally ill wife and their nine-year-old
daughter.
“You can put the worst bail conditions in Victoria on me. I just want to be at
home with my wife,” he said.
Police retrieve evidence and a safe from The Finks clubhouse in Ringwood.
Picture: Rob Leeson
Police retrieve evidence and a safe from The Finks clubhouse in Ringwood.
Picture: Rob LeesonSource:News Corp Australia
But bail justice Kenneth Coughlan remanded him, accepting police submissions he
was an unacceptable risk.
Charges against Napolitano include conspiracy to kidnap, affray, conspiracy to
commit aggravated burglary, conspiracy to extort, possessing a prohibited
weapon, incitement and possessing a substance that is prejudicial to police
jail.
Detectives remove an item from a vehicle parked at the Heatherdale railway
station during a raid on the Finks clubhouse in Ringwood. Source: AAP Picture:
Mal Fairclough
Detectives remove an item from a vehicle parked at the Heatherdale railway
station during a raid on the Finks clubhouse in Ringwood. Source: AAP Picture:
Mal FaircloughSource:AAP
Girgis and Carter were both charged with offences including conspiracy to
extort, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, handling stolen goods and
committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Girgis was already on bail awaiting trial on a charge of being an accessory to
the murder of Michael Strike.
Mr Strike’s body was found dumped in May last year, with traces of his blood
found in the clubhouse of the rival Bandidos gang in Brunswick.
Girgis, a former Bandido, has since joined the Finks.
Bail was refused for both men.
All three and others are expected to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court
on Wednesday.