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Mark Buddle charged with intimidating Mel Ter Wisscha

Former Comanchero head Mark Buddle has been accused of verbally threatening his ex-wife as he languishes behind bars on remand charged with importing cocaine worth $40m.

S01 E02: The Rise and Rise of Mark Buddle

The former head of the Comanchero has been charged after he allegedly threatened his ex-wife during a phone call from the Victorian prison where he is on remand on major drug charges.

NSW Police served ex-bikie boss Mark Buddle with a future court attendance notice for intimidation on May 9 after the alleged incident involving his former partner Mel Ter Wisscha.

“Police will allege in court that the man has called and verbally threatened a woman, known to him,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.

“The matter is due to be heard at Parramatta Local Court on June 24.”

An associated apprehended violence order for Ms Ter Wisscha’s protection was taken out and will be mentioned for the first time at the same court on May 20.

Mark Buddle and Mel Ter Wisscha.
Mark Buddle and Mel Ter Wisscha.

Buddle, 40, has been languishing in Barwon Prison since he was extradited to Australia from Turkey in August 2022.

He is facing two charges related to the alleged importation of 160kg of cocaine with a street value of $40 million, both of which carry a maximum potential sentence of life in prison.

Mark Buddle.
Mark Buddle.
The couple in happier times.
The couple in happier times.

The Australian Federal Police will allege Operation Ironside South Britannic linked Buddle to a transnational criminal syndicate operating out of Hong Kong and Turkey.

The Australian Federal Police will allege he controlled the cocaine shipment using the encrypted app AN0M, which was created and secretly accessed by their officers and the FBI in the United States.

Buddle and Ms Ter Wisscha initially settled in Dubai in 2016, before she relocated to Turkey and he to Northern Cyprus.

In August 2022 following Buddle’s arrest, Ms Ter Wisscha told The Daily Telegraph she and her husband had been separated for a month and she had not seen him for more than a year.

Mark Buddle during his extradition in August 2022.
Mark Buddle during his extradition in August 2022.
Mel Ter Wisscha.
Mel Ter Wisscha.

In January, Ms Ter Wisscha also told The Daily Telegraph Buddle’s marriage to Cypriot woman Ozge Kavus was “transactional” and only a means to attain Turkish citizenship for himself.

Ms Kavus, 30, claims to have borne Buddle’s son, which Ms Ter Wisscha disputes, saying her former husband pines for their two daughters while he remains behind bars on remand.

“He’s very close with our girls,” Ms Ter Wisscha said at the time.

“He adores them and contacts them daily.”

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/mark-buddle-charged-with-intimidating-mel-ter-wisscha/news-story/9b155b7d19a32270369d2d511d894253