Alleged Mongols bikie Joshua Small has extortion charges dropped after accuser Callum Kemp refuses to speak
A man accused of drug dealing has refused to give evidence in court about a claimed extortion attempt and threats of violence.
Gold Coast
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An alleged drug dealer who accused an alleged Mongols bikie of trying to extort him has refused to give evidence in court about the threats.
Alleged Mongols bikie gang member Joshua James Small was accused of threatening Callum Kemp that he would be beaten up if Kemp did not pay back money owed to a drug dealer.
The Southport Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday Kemp had fallen into a $28,000 debt with another dealer and turned to Small for help.
It was alleged Small, between October 2020 to March last year, told Kemp if he did not hand over the money the other drug dealer would beat him up.
A committal hearing to determine if there was enough evidence for Small to go to trial for extortion began on Tuesday.
Kemp, who is in custody for drug related matters, was brought into the court wearing a black button down shirt and jeans and asked to give evidence.
“I wish to drop all the charges and I will make no further comment,” he said after being sworn in.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Manon Barwick placed Kemp’s statement in front of him.
When asked if it was his signature Kemp replied: “No comment.”
After a short break in court, Sgt Barwick offered no evidence for the extortion charge.
Earlier in the hearing, Taskforce Maxima Detective Senior Constable Mick Guida told the court Kemp’s mother had last week told him Kemp wanted to withdraw the complaint.
“When I went to speak to him on Sunday he did not mention that,” Det Sen Const Guida said.
“He was aware that he was going to give evidence.”
Det Sen Const Guida said the only time he was aware Kemp had considered withdrawing the complaint was when his mother had relayed the message.
Small’s lawyer Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, asked if Kemp had gone to the Coomera police station last year to attempt to withdraw the complaint.
Det Sen Const Guida replied: “I was not aware of that.”
Small will remain in custody on unrelated charges.
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