Visy 'uses bikies as debt collectors', Hells Angels implicated (in what|? where's the crime?)
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AAP
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May 14, 2012
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Police record links between bikies and Visy
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Packaging company using bikes as muscle
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Allegations are "nonsense", says Visy
Hells Angels bikie gang members have allegedly been used by a major Australian company as a private security and debt collecting force. Picture: News Limited
HELLS Angels bikies are allegedly acting as bad debt collectors for multibillion-dollar packaging group Visy, a report says.
The Herald Sun newspaper says police intelligence has recorded links between Visy and the notorious bikie gang, and have found that other bikie gangs and underworld figures are acting as debt collectors.
The paper says the bikies moved in to the industry after the state government last year scrapped the need for debt collectors to be licensed.
Visy told the paper that the bikie allegations were "nonsense".
The paper pointed out that in 2007 former Visy manager Craig Smith gave character evidence for Hells Angel Stephen Rogers during his sentence hearing in the County Court for drug trafficking.
According to the Herald Sun, Visy allegedly pays the Hells Angels a retainer to ensure bikies are available for the company to use when needed.
Police and industry sources said the deal was ratified by Visy founder Richard Pratt before he died in 2009.
