Brazen bikie hits back at claims gang was taunting Strike Force Raptor with Instagram picture
ONE of Sydney’s most high-profile bikies has shut down claims the Nomads MC held a club meeting in Canberra to escape the anti-consorting laws enforced in New South Wales, suggesting the gang was just out for a leisurely ride.
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ONE of Sydney’s most high-profile bikies has shut down claims the Nomads MC held a club meeting in Canberra to escape the anti-consorting laws enforced in New South Wales.
The legislation is designed to disrupt the activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs by banning individuals from associating with two or more people convicted of a criminal offence.
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As the nation’s capital doesn’t enforce such laws, it has made Canberra the go-to destination for outlaw motorcycle gangs looking to ride together and conduct club business.
Earlier this week The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed dozens of Nomad bikie gang members taunted Strike Force Raptor when they posed for a photograph wearing full colours in Canberra.
Former Nomads vice president and convicted killer Moudi Tajjour — who shared the picture and separate videos on his Instagram account — has since hit back.
In a subsequent Instagram post written in all caps, the cousin of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim denied any wrongdoing by the club and played down the purpose of the meeting.
“WE WERE NOT TAUNTING POLICE,” he wrote.
“WE WERE SIMPLY CATCHING UP WITH OUR BROTHERS HAVIN (sic) A GREAT TIME RIDING AND PARTYING.
“Wtf HAS US GETTING TOGETHER GOT TO DO WITH TAUNTING POLICE.”
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Tajjour, the youngest ever bikie to join a club, first posted a photo of his gang at a tourist spot overlooking Canberra to Instagram on Sunday, along with a video clip.
“Malcolm Turnbull we came to Canberra to say ‘bye to ya’,’’ Tajjour said, in a reference to the leadership spill last Friday that ousted Mr Turnbull as prime minister.
It’s understood ACT police stopped the group and spoke to them before letting them ride on.
“There is no way they would get away with taking a photo like that or riding around in Sydney,’’ a senior NSW cop told The Daily Telegraph. “Strike Force Raptor would be all over them.’’
Canberra has become a safe haven for bikies since tough anti-consorting laws were introduced in NSW in 2013 after a spate of violent crime by gangs.
From having just one gang in 2014 the capital now has four — and regular visits from out-of-town crews.
It’s believed that Sydney bikies go as far as loading their motorcycles onto trucks to ship to the Australian Capital Territory so they can ride together during visits.
The rise in gangs and violent acts led top ACT cop Justine Saunders to say she was kept up at night by fears an innocent person would one day be a victim of bikie violence.
MORE: FORMER NOMADS VP REFLECTS ON JAIL
“You have the ACT Chief Police Officer … agreeing she fears innocent victims from bikie violence, and also that organised crime groups like OMCGs are coming,” ACT opposition legal spokesman Jeremy Hanson said.
“We need to have consorting laws here to prevent the growth of bikies before someone is killed,’’ he said.
His bid to introduce anti-consorting laws was defeated by the ALP-controlled government.
A spokesman said the ACT government had strengthened police powers to target criminal gangs.
But it did not support anti-consorting laws because they could have a “disproportionate impact” on vulnerable members of our society”.