Seaton man Pasquale Lagana’s blackmail and theft charges withdrawn

A restaurant owner accused of blackmailing a Hells Angels bikie had all charges withdrawn, with his lawyer saying the alleged victim’s credibility was shot.

A Seaton man has had two serious charges withdrawn after police initially alleged he knocked on the front door of a Hells Angels bikie chasing down a $60,000 debt.

Pasquale Lagana, 30, was due to face charge determination in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday but his charges of aggravated theft using force and blackmail were not proceeded with.

During a successful home detention bail bid in February, a prosecutor claimed in court that Mr Lagana had gone to the alleged victim’s home to chase a $60,000 debt from a “mutual acquaintance”, of which payment was refused.

After the refusal, the court heard, Mr Lagana, a spray painter and restaurant owner, allegedly left the home only to return shortly later with an unheard of interest rate having increased that debt to $180,000.

Hells Angels' logo. Picture: File

Prosecutor Nick Fatchen told the court the alleged victim had years prior owed Mr Lagana $30,000 for a drug debt which he had borrowed money from his parents to pay.

The court heard he was told it was in his best interest to pay at that time after Mr Lagana allegedly told him “pay up because people from Sydney are coming”.

Mr Fatchen said the charges, however, related to Mr Lagana allegedly threatening to bash the man if he did not pay the new $180,000 debt and then stealing his ring.

During the bail application, Andrew Moffa, for Mr Lagana, said the alleged victim was a member of the Hells Angels and his credibility, as a result, was shot.

“On my instructions (the alleged victim) has an extensive (criminal) record and is connected to an (Outlaw Motorcycle Gang) organisation,” he said.

“That will cut across his credibility at a later stage.

“It’s the HAs, the Hells Angels, that the alleged victim is associated with.”

Mr Moffa told the court he had pursued the apparent “extensive record” of the alleged victim from police, but they had not provided it to him.
However, Mr Fatchen interjected to provide the history to Mr Moffa, conceding the alleged victim’s singular prior conviction had come almost a decade ago for possessing prescription drugs.

On Thursday, Mr Lagana was released from his bail agreement.