Comanchero ‘bikie’ Matthew Douet bailed to same rehab centre as TV star Andrew O’Keefe
Former TV host Andrew O’Keefe is among 20 men being housed at the waterfront rehab centre north of Port Stephens. Soon they will be joined by an accused bikie looking to kick his own drug habit.
Police & Courts
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Fallen TV game show host Andrew O‘Keefe is getting a new neighbour at the luxury coastal drug rehabilitation centre he now calls home.
Alleged Comanchero bikie and accused drug dealer Matthew Douet was granted bail in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday to attend the Connect Global rehabilitation centre in Swan Bay, near Port Stephens, north of Newcastle.
O‘Keefe has been living at the Christian-oriented facility for a month since being released from custody to tackle his drug and alcohol issues.
O’Keefe was charged and remanded in custody after he alleged grabbed a former sex worker by the throat, punched her and pushed her to the ground in January. O’Keefe claims he was acting in self defence at the time.
Global Connect says on its website the 20-bed centre provides “respite, peace and rejuvenation within a supported environment, to men whose lives have been devastated by drugs and alcohol abuse.”
Douet’s barrister, Ertunc Ozen SC, told Justice David Davies his client had already paid the $14,000 upfront cost of the centre’s 12-month treatment program and had the support of his family to attend the facility.
He dismissed as “shadowy assertions” police concerns raised in a letter to the court about Douet, the alleged secretary of the Comanchero’s south coast chapter, living at a centre whose “primary operator is said to be a motorcycle enthusiast”.
“There has been no assertion by police that [Connect Global] has any association with organised crime such as seems to be alluded to very obliquely in this police letter,” Mr Ozen said.
He was one of five men were arrested in sweeping raids across the Illawarra last September, with police alleging the group used the secret Trojan horse encrypted app AN0M to communicate about their deals.
Douet is being represented by solicitor Mohamed Bejjaoui from Bankstown firm Abbas Jacobs.
The court heard Douet’s alleged involvement in the drug operation had ceased four months before his arrest and he’d sought psychological intervention to address his addiction issues.
Mr Ozen said Douet’s supporters, including family friend Anthony Satar, could put up a $50,000 surety to ensure he complied with his bail conditions and turned up to court, noting there was “nothing in the facts to suggest Douet had access to large funds or [had] lead a lavish lifestyle”.
Prosecutors opposed Douet’s release, however Justice Davies granted bail, despite agreeing the case against the 32-year-old was a strong one.
He said there was nothing in Douet’s past criminal history to suggest he was a flight risk.
“I’m satisfied by reason of him being at the rehabilitation centre, with the additional support of a surety being provided, the risk of his non attendance at court is sufficiently mitigated,” he said.
On top of the surety, Douet must live at the facility, not drink alcohol or consume drugs and not have contact with any co-accused under the conditions of his bail.
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