Bikie associate Mark Judge fined over ‘fake’ watches worth $3.5m

A police raid on a Bondi jeweller, $3.5 million worth of luxury watches and $270,000 seized. But Kings Cross identity turned jewellery salesman Mark Judge walked away with only a $1000 fine — and he’s set to challenge the decision again in court.

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It had all the hallmarks of a Hollywood heist film — a raid on a Bondi jeweller where police seized $3.5 million worth of luxury watches and $270,000 cash and then charged a Kings Cross identity.

But Mark Judge — a bikie associate turned jewellery salesman who was once romantically linked to soap star Jodi Anasta — walked away from the case at Waverley Local Court with only a $1000 fine.

It was because police had charged the former bikie associate merely with being three days late in lodging his paperwork relating to the watches, as required under the state’s pawnbroking laws.

Mark Judge was charged with failing to keep adequate records over the sale of watches.

The raids made big news in July 2018 when detectives raided The Watch Exchange inside Westfield at Bondi Junction in front of curious shoppers and seized 135 high end timepieces.

Police later told a press conference they suspected links to organised crime.

The glitzy watches — some of which were completely covered in diamonds — were made by legendary brands including Rolex, Breitling and Patek Philippe. The time pieces at the upper end of the haul carried a price tag of more than $100,000.

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But, as the investigation unfolded, it became apparent that all Mr Judge was guilty of was late paperwork.

Tendered court documents said 71 watches were transferred from the pawn licence belonging to Mr Judge’s business partner in the shop, Gabriel Saffo, to the licence registered to Mr Judge.

The law says the paperwork for the transfer must be registered with the authorities within three days — it took Mr Judge six, the documents said.

The 39-year-old was charged with failing to keep adequate records and providing records to police and was fined $1000 by Magistrate Michael Crompton on March 6.

The police raids took place at The Watch Exchange at Bondi Junction in July last year.

In court, Mr Judge’s lawyer Stephen Alexander told Magistrate Crompton the charges and coverage negatively impacted his client’s business because there were incorrect assertions that some of the watches may have been fakes.

“The media reporting of $3 million worth of watches being seized by police … caused a number of customers to seek reimbursements and assurances,” Mr Alexander told the court.

The investigation was sparked by an unrelated event when a man allegedly used a stolen credit card to buy a watch from the shop, leading to the police raid.

Mr Judge is now set to challenge the fine and lodged appeal documents with the Sydney District Court with a hearing set down for May 1.

Mr Judge and Mr Saffo could not be reached for comment.

Police documents also confirmed Mr Saffo will stand trial in Waverley Local Court on 36 charges relating to the raid.

His lawyer Chris Eliopoulos entered a not guilty plea in January.

Mark Judge lodged an appeal to challenge the $1000 fine.

The charges include 34 counts of possessing unlawfully obtained goods and one count each of failing to keep records for second hand goods and failing to provide police with records as a pawnbroker.

“My client denies the allegations and will be defending the matter in court,” Mr Eliopoulos said.

“The police have returned a large number of the watches and cash seized to date because there was no impropriety associated with them.”

Mr Judge, a former associate of the Rebels bikie gang, hit the headlines in 2009 when he and former Home And Away star Jodi Anasta (nee Gordon) were found by police in his Bellevue Hill home.

Police rushed to the home after receiving a call to say the pair were being attacked by armed men. It later emerged the pair had been partying in Kings Cross.

Two years later, Mr Judge almost died after he was stabbed nine times outside the same unit. His torso is still covered with scars from the attack.