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Truck firm raided in bikie hunt
 
13nov05
A TRUCKING company, raided by police probing the disappearance of former Gypsy Jokers president Steve Williams, has links to a rival bikie gang.
 
It can also be revealed R. Singleton (Traders) Pty Ltd, which had operated the Kapara Rd trucking business in Gillman, now has debts of almost $4 million and is under voluntary administration.
 
Inspector Graham Goodwin, officer-in-charge of anti-bikie taskforce Avatar, said this week Francesco Condo, 35, the sole director of the company, was a member of a bikie gang.
 
"To our knowledge he is a member of a motorcycle gang," Inspector Goodwin said.
 
Police raided Mr Condo's business on October 25 looking for any sign of Mr Williams, who has been missing since June 14.
 
  

They also seized computers and other documents which have mostly not yet been returned.
 
Mr Condo said he had done nothing wrong and was not involved in the disappearance of Mr Williams.
 
"I have no theories – I have nothing to do with the whole thing," Mr Condo, of Hampstead Gardens, said.
 
"It's a tender subject at the moment. I've been ridiculed and prosecuted. I've had enough.
 
"All I'm trying to do is make a living."
 
Asked if he was a member of a bikie gang, namely the Finks, Mr Condo said: "No comment."
 
Mr Condo said the publicity surrounding the police raid had affected his business.
 
"What do you reckon? I'm going broke," he said.
 
In a separate matter, Mr Condo is facing two charges in the Adelaide Magistrates Court relating to identity fraud.
 
He has been charged with being in possession of documents to create identity fraud and also dishonest dealings with documents.
 
These matters relate to the alleged intended use of interstate drivers' licences at Norwood in June 2004 for a criminal purpose, according to a court summons lodged by the Police Criminal Justice Section.
 
One of the summons says Mr Condo allegedly intended to "deceive people generally by disguising his true identity".
 
Financial administrator Hugh Martin, of Bernardi Martin, said the police seizure of documents from R. Singleton had made it harder for him to access company records and investigate repayment to creditors.
 
The Gillman site and property, including 49 prime movers and other vehicles, will be auctioned on Tuesday in a bid to recover money owed to creditors.
 
Mr Martin said this included $2.25 million to trade creditors, $500,000 to the Australian Taxation Office, $330,000 in payroll tax and $760,000 to employees.
 
He said the company's financial problems were mostly caused by fuel costs.
 
"A large part of it was the rising fuel costs that it couldn't pass on to its customers and a bad purchase of another trucking company," he said.
 
Mr Martin said he had tried to sell the business as a going concern but had not received any offers.
 
The police raid had not affected efforts to sell the business, which was placed under administration in September and ceased trading in October, he said
 
He had heard Mr Condo had "bikie links".
 
"I understand that Frank (Francesco) is a member of a bikie club," Mr Martin said.
 
Police raided the site looking for Mr Williams after receiving a tip from a member of the public.
 
They have also searched an area at Gillman spanning the Heini Becker Motorcycle Sports Park, a stormwater drain and some open space.
 
Detective Superintendent Peter Woite, head of the Major Crime Investigation Branch, said there had been seven additional calls to CrimeStoppers since the searches, bringing the total to 65.
 
"We could be doing further searches," he said.
 
"We are looking for the remains of Steve Williams or a possible gravesite.
 
"We have been optimistic, but as times passes it is looking less likely (he will be found alive)."
 
Asked if police were investigating Mr Condo as a suspect, Det-Supt Woite said: "For operational reasons I cannot make any comment on that."
 
He also refused to say whether Mr Condo had been interviewed.
 
Mr Williams was last seen when he visited his mother soon after being dropped off at the Gepps Cross Hotel by his boss at 2.30pm on June 14.
 
His white Ford Falcon was later found abandoned in the hotel car park.
 
 
 

 


 

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