NSW bikie associate Ahmad Elcheikh charged under new digital evidence access order laws
A bikie associate has become the first person to be charged under tough NSW laws that target the use of encrypted devices for criminal activity.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A bikie associate has become the first person to be charged under the tough new communication laws targeting the use of dedicated encrypted devices for criminal activity.
Tattoo artist Ahmad Elcheikh was served with a Digital Evidence Access Order after he allegedly refused to hand over his device during a search of his Greystanes home.
Police allege the 33-year-old man failed to comply with the order and was arrested at the Canal Rd property.
He was taken to Granville Police Station and charged with two counts of fail to comply digital evidence access order direction, two counts of deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000, and one count each of do act etc intending to pervert the course of justice, and possess prohibited drug.
During the search warrant, detectives located a number of items including two small vials of steroids, several mobile phones and a suspected dedicated encrypted criminal communication device.
Police allege Mr Elcheikh dealt with $32,800 that was the proceeds of crime at Tintebar on the far NSW north coast and Greystanes in November and February respectively.
His matter was mentioned at Parramatta Local Court on Friday. He did not appear via video link and no bail application was made.
The matter will return to court on Tuesday.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the man was the first to be charged under the NSW Liberals and Nationals tough new laws.
“These new laws were only introduced eight days ago and already our police are using them to strike at the very heart of how these criminal gangs communicate,” Mr Toole said.
“Organised criminals are now on notice - our tough new laws provide police with even more powers to search their properties, put them before the courts and keep our community safe”.
Police said the warrant on the man’s home was in connection to the arrest in QLD of Comanchero boss Allan Meehan.
More Coverage
‘Disgusting’: Customers turn on restaurateur charged with displaying swastika
Customers have turned against Nomad restaurant after one of its owners was charged for displaying a swastika at Sunday’s pro-Palestinian march in Hyde Park.
Adult kids suspected father of poisoning mum in kill plot: Police
Stephan Wagner’s adult children uncovered an 18-month plot to kill his wife, police allege, calling them after tracking falling levels in a bottle of Ant-Rid as their mum became “seriously ill”.