Ali Hassan Bilal: Bikie launches bail bid to see his godchildren

A man who police claim is the ACT president of the Rebels OMCG has applied in ACT Magistrate’s Court to have his bail conditions eased to see his godchildren. Find out what happened.

A man police claim is one of the nation’s top ranking bikies has lost a bid to have bail conditions eased so he could visit his godchildren.

Ali Hassan Bilal, 50, of Woollogorang in NSW faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday for a bail variation hearing.

Mr Bilal, who ACT Policing allege to be the ACT President and the National Sergeant-At-Arms of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, has been on police bail since he was arrested the day before Christmas Eve last year.

He is charged with using a carriage service to threaten to cause serious harm; recklessly threatening to cause harm to a Commonwealth official; failing to comply with an order made by a magistrate and nine counts of using a carriage service to menace harass or cause offence.

Mr Bilal’s lawyer, Peter Woodhouse from Aulich Law, told the court his client sought to change two of his bail conditions; to reduce his reporting requirements to once weekly rather than three times per week, and for the court to delete the requirement he not be in contact with two men believed to be outlaw motorcycle gang associates.

Ali Hassan Bilal leaves the ACT Law Courts. Police believe he is the ACT President and National Sergeant-At-Arms of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Mr Woodhouse told the court one of the men barred from being in contact with his client had been employed by Mr Bilal prior to his arrest to build dog kennels.

He stated the bail condition unfairly interfered with legitimate business between the men.

Mr Woodhouse also stated his client was the godfather to the second man’s children, and bail conditions deprived Mr Bilal from being able to interact with his godchildren.

Prosecutor Soraya Saikal-Skea did not oppose changes for the first condition but vehemently opposed further changes to bail conditions, stating the two other men were known members of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

“ (Mr Bilal) has a very clear purpose in life, to threaten, to menace,” she said.

“He is a fairly dangerous individual.”

Ms Saikal-Skea said outlaw motorcycle gangs are organised and if he was able to contact the two men named in his bail conditions he could order illegal activity through the chain.

She also said the defence submission it was important for Mr Bilal to remain in contact with his godchildren was on “shaky ground”.

“(To allow him to see these men) to build a dog kennel and see children … It all sounds good and well in the cold blooded court -”

Magistrate James Lawton cut the prosecutor off:

“(You’ve said) somewhat inflammatory statements that are inappropriate for a prosecutor,” he said.

Ali Hassan Bilal (centre) leaves the ACT Law Courts with Lawyer Peter Woodhouse (right, in suit) and an associate (left, in red shirt) Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Ms Saikal-Skea promptly apologised.

“If there was an associate who was gravely ill that‘s a (fair) reason for variation of bail,” she said.

“(Bail variations for) access to friends and building dog kennels are not reasons good enough.”

Magistrate Lawton ultimately only granted the first bail variation.

Officer’s from ACT Policing’s anti Outlaw Motorcycle Gang investigators Taskforce Nemesis executed a search warrant on Mr Bilal in Braddon on December 23 where he was arrested and his Chrysler 300C sedan and a mobile phone were seized.

Police allege the Chrysler was purchased with the proceeds of crime and was owned by a second member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.

Police say that second member was charged in November 2021 with multiple unrelated offences.

Mr Bilal will appear in court for a pre hearing mention on April 1.