Canberra Comanchero Aofangatukau Langi refused bail amid reprisal fears after ‘murder’ of Comanchero boss Pitasoni Ulavalu
A judge has refused bail for top Canberra Comanchero as police fear ‘tit-for-tat’ reprisals after the weekend ‘murder’ of the gang’s chapter president Pitasoni Ulavalu.
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The sergeant-at-arms of the Canberra chapter of the Comanchero bikie gang has been refused bail amid police fears he would have stepped up to become the gang’s local president and could have orchestrated retribution for the recent “murder” of leader Pitasoni Ulavalu.
Aofangatukau Fatafehi Finau Langi, 31, appeared in the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday where Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson refused him bail, with defence lawyer Peter Bevan arguing his client wanted to pick up work as a forklift driver in Sydney.
Crown Prosecutor Anthony Williamson, opposing bail, for the first time publicly described the killing of Comanchero Canberra chapter president Pitasoni Ulavalu as a “murder”, and said it would likely fall to Langi as sergeant-at-arms, to orchestrate any reprisals.
“This Sunday just passed, the (president) of the Canberra chapter was murdered in the city,” Mr Williamson said.
No arrests have been made and no charges laid over Mr Ulavalu’s death on Sunday.
Mr Williamson showed the court photos of Langi flashing a Comanchero gang sign inside Canberra’s jail, the Alexander Maconochie Centre, saying Langi “continues … to be involved with the gang”.
He said the community would be at “very extreme risk” if Langi was granted bail.
Langi is in custody on remand over allegations he and a co-accused, Chris Millington, took part in a 2019 armed home invasion and arson attack on the former sergeant-at-arms of the Canberra chapter of the rival Nomads bikie gang, Alexander Miller.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to charges including arson, discharging a loaded firearm, conspiracy, and aggravated burglary.
Mr Miller, who is also in custody on drugs and weapons charges, has since been kicked out of his gang after taking up work as a male prostitute to fund his drug habit.
Justice Loukas-Karlsson said the allegations against Langi were “very high on the criminal calendar”.
In a document tendered in court, police say there is a “significant likelihood” Langi would assume the role of chapter president.
“The gang will again have a strong hierarchical realignment, thus increasing the risk of retribution-style attacks being ordered and carried out by members of the gang,” the police document says.
Police also had fears that, if Langi was released, it would have triggered a “tit-for-tat style retribution between the gangs, similar to that seen in 2017”.
“If bailed, (Langi) will be a target of the Nomads OMCG … he will have active involvement in further action against the Nomads OMCG,” the police document says.
Justice Loukas-Karlsson said she was “satisfied in all the circumstances” Langi should be refused bail.
His case returns to court for a directions hearing in August.