Sgt Bayllis told the court Mr Mamo had a "healthy suspicion" of the informant's identity and was heard making threats against the person during telephone conversations last year.

 

"The accused is a life member of the Rebels motorcycle gang and indeed has a high position within the chapter," she told the court.

 

She said Mr Mamo was heard saying: "I've got to get hold of this c**t ... because he's got hold of the boy's f***ing rifles, f***ing, mate."

 

In another conversation he was allegedly heard saying to the informant "when you're f***ing on the ground under my boot ... I will f***ing baton you, mate".

 

The threat against the informant and that person's family would increase "100-fold" if Mr Mamo was released on bail, Sgt Bayllis told the court.

 

The court was told the informant's family's house was smashed up twice in April and May last year.

 

Mr Mamo is alleged to have told the informant's father: "I don't know how much I've got to cop before I start getting nasty."

 

Mr Mamo's lawyer said the prosecution's case was "highly contested".

 

He said Mr Mamo suffered depression, had post traumatic stress related to an accident that killed his friend, and also had to care for his daughter, who has cerebral palsy.

 

Mr Mamo had never been in jail before and had a friend who could provide $30,000 in cash to ensure he would not break strict bail conditions, he said.

 

Mr Mamo has been charged with possessing more than three unregistered firearms, possessing prohibited firearms, two counts of possessing prohibited article, possessing a police uniform, two counts of possessing ammunition and two counts of not keeping prohibited firearms safely.

 

He did not enter a plea.

 

Magistrate Paul Sloane remanded Mr Mamo in custody to appear in the same court on May 12.