Canberra bikie Susefo Tu’uta Katoa to be deported to New Zealand after legal stand-off
The sergeant-at-arms of the Canberra chapter of the Comanchero bikie gang – who had been facing affray, assault and bomb-making charges – will be booted from the country in coming days.
Canberra Star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Canberra Star. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Brothel owner denies allegations he raped ‘naive’ young women
- Canberra pub owner sentenced over ‘vile’ nude photo stash
- Dangerous Great Dane mauled former cop on morning walk
The sergeant-at-arms of the Canberra chapter of the Comanchero bikie gang – who had been facing affray, assault and bomb-making charges – will be booted from the country in coming days.
Susefo Tu’uta Katoa, 25, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday for what was supposed to be the third day of a hearing into an alleged affray at a Southern Cross Club in Woden in January this year.
But prosecutor Brian Ngugi withdrew all charges Katoa was facing, including those relating to his alleged possession of an “incendiary bomb”, and a separate assault.
Mr Ngugi said that would have left Katoa free to go, but an underling of Immigration Minister David Coleman had revoked Katoa’s Australian visa.
The move prompted Magistrate Louise Taylor to send Katoa back to prison until Border Force officials turf him to New Zealand.
The development brings to a close a months-long standoff, with prosecutors keen to keep Katoa in Australia and bring him to justice, but with immigration authorities wanting to kick him out of the country.
Anti-bikie cops found the sergeant-at-arms patch at Katoa’s house during a raid earlier this year, and the courts have previously heard his number-two role within the chapter was to control discipline and take action against rivals.
At a bail hearing in September, ACT Police Leading Constable Dale Ohlmus said: “The Sergeant-at-Arms sits under the commander … their role is to ensure the safety of the gang, to ensure discipline among its members and co-ordinate action against rival gangs or retaliation to any action being put to their gang.”
Katoa had been sergeant-at-arms since February, according to police.
The courts have also heard Katoa is believed to have been involved in dozens of gang-related arsons and shootings, although he has never been charged over most of that suspected offending.
Also on Wednesday, Commancheros underling Palei Samiu Maifelemi, 25, pleaded guilty to his role in the January affray.
He and Jaymie Turner, 29, will return to court in December for sentencing, while other Comanchero, including the man who police allege is the local chapter commander, Pitasoni Tali Ulavalu, will contest the charge at a hearing in July.