Alleged Mongols bikie Harley Barbaro granted bail on new charges

An alleged Gold Coast bikie was back in the court dock on several fresh charges. FULL DETAILS

Mongols bikie Harley Barbaro at Southport Court for a committal hearing into the bashing outside the Helensvale gym earlier this year. Picture Glenn Hampson

An alleged Gold Coast bikie has been freed on bail after he was allegedly caught socialising with other known criminals, a court has been told.

Alleged Mongols member Harley Barbaro spent two days in the watch-house before appearing in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.

The 30-year-old is charged with habitually consorting with recognised offenders between January 22, 2022 and October 17 this year.

The court was told Barbaro was allegedly seen with known criminals at local businesses and several locations interstate, including in Western Australia and Victoria.

Barbaro did not enter a plea to the charge, but did plead guilty to one count each of breaching bail and possessing unauthorised medicines.

Harley Barbaro leaves Southport Magistrates Court on March 15, 2023.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jim Pedlow said Barbaro was found with unprescribed Aspen Dexamphetamine – generally used to treat conditions such as ADHD – when officers searched his home on Sunday morning.

Sgt Pedlow said the prosecution would allege Barbaro was captured on CCTV drinking with other alleged Mongols – including Matthew Hutchins – at Ashmore’s Central Park Tavern on August 18.

Barbaro breached the condition of his bail banning him from contacting or attempting to contact any of his co-accused in the alleged bashing of another man outside a Helensvale gym last year, the court was told.

He was sentenced to one month’s jail, wholly suspended for three months for the breach of bail and medicines charges.

Sgt Pedlow claimed Barbaro would be a risk of “constant consorting” if granted bail on his remaining charge, and had previously been convicted of similar breaches.

Lawyer Campbell MacCallum, of Moloney MacCallum Lawyers, said Barbaro spent about six months in custody on remand last year and was now surveilled “day and night”.

Mr MacCallum said his client now had full-time work and wanted to focus on supporting his fiancee and their two young children.

“It would appear that when Mr Barbaro seems to be settling into society and going well, something like this arrives on his doorstep,” Mr MacCallum said.

He told the court elements of the consorting charge would be contested, and that Barbaro could be at risk of spending too much time behind bars if refused bail.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic granted Barbaro’s release on several strict conditions, saying it was a “last-ditch attempt” to assist him.

His case will be mentioned on December 5. The assault charge is listed for mention in the Southport District Court on November 30.

Originally published as Alleged Mongols bikie Harley Barbaro granted bail on new charges