Bail granted for alleged bikie accused of bashing and extorting employer

Police allege the 38-year-old Dakabin man threatened to ‘hunt down’ the family of his former boss if he didn’t transfer him $10,000.

An alleged bikie gang member accused of extorting thousands of dollars and bashing a former employer was granted bail at the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on Monday.

The heavily tattooed Dale James Moore, 38, appeared from custody for a bail application hearing on one count of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and demanding property with the intent to steal, otherwise known as extortion.

The defendant strongly denied any gang associations, while the prosecution offered no further evidence in open court.

Police will allege Moore was contracted to work as a concreter on a worksite at Narrabri, New South Wales, when a pay dispute turned violent.

The court heard Moore allegedly demanded employer Ben Sue-Fong pay him $10,000 and “forced him to open his phone to transfer $4500 (of the total sum)” on Friday, February 5.

That same day, Moore is alleged to have punched and headbutted Mr Sue-Fong, causing grievous bodily harm and fracturing his eye socket in several places.

Police further alleged Moore continued to harass Mr Sue-Fong at hospital, sending him a number of voicemails and text messages which allegedly threatened to “hunt down” and harm both the victim and his Caboolture-based family if he didn’t receive the rest of the money.

Moore stands accused of punching and headbutting his former employer, fracturing his eye socket.

The prosecutor said Moore had “significant ties to the Rebels Motorcycle Club”, a Brisbane-founded outlaw motorcycle club with about 70 chapters and 2000 members nationwide.

Moore vehemently denied the association in court.

His lawyer told the court Moore’s limited criminal history “certainly doesn't implicate him in that sort of behaviour”.

The court heard Moore gave up a number of concrete jobs in Brisbane to follow his friend and employer to Narrabri on the promise of a significant, high-paying contract, but became disillusioned when pay was slow to appear in his bank account.

The defence claimed Moore was owed in excess of $4500 when he confronted Sue-Fong and an angry “scuffle” ensued.

Magistrate Trevor Morgan noted Moore “looks like (a bikie)” but accepted there was little other evidence tendered to the court to support the claim.

Moore was granted bail on the condition he reside at his partner’s residence at Coomera for one night, have no contact with the victim, and appear for his court appearance at Tweed Heads tomorrow at 9am.