Campbell MacCallum slams cops over Harley Barbaro charges

Defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum has hit out at police over charges levelled against alleged bikie Harley Barbaro after he attended the opening of a barber shop.

Harley Barbaro has been accused of breaching bail. Picture: Jerad Williams

LAWYER Campbell MacCallum has hit out at police after alleged Mongols bikie Harley Barbaro appeared in court on breach of bail charges.

Detectives from Taskforce Maxima arrested Barbaro after he attended the opening of Black Canvas barber shop in Logan on Saturday.

Barbaro, an alleged Mongols bikie member and the brother of slain Sydney underworld figure Pasquale Barbaro, is accused of breaching existing bail for a consorting charge by associating with outlaw motorcycle gang members.

Harley Barbaro with defence lawyer Campbell McCallum. Picture: Scott Powick.

He appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon charged with three counts of breaching bail.

Under his existing bail conditions he cannot contact three individuals, unless it’s in the course of his employment.

Defence barrister Martin Longhurst, instructed by Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, told the court Barbaro worked at Black Canvas in Carina and attended the opening of its new store at Logan on Saturday as an employee.

Mr Longhurst said Barbaro even notified police that he was doing so.

He described the allegations before the court as a “difference in interpretation”.

Barbaro applied for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution.

Magistrate Michelle Dooley labelled the conditions of Barbaro’s existing bail as “difficult to interpret”, “very vague” and “hard to enforce”.

But Barbaro was granted bail with the existing conditions.

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Outside of court Mr MacCallum was scathing about the charges.

He said Barbaro didn’t think he was doing anything wrong, and it appeared Taskforce Maxima “misinterpreted” the bail conditions and legislation.

“I had emailed the police prior to the event and advised them that he would be there (at the barber shop) and the other persons would be there and they’ve unfortunately pounced on that and charged him with conditions, which of course deters him and maybe myself from informing of anything in the future,” he said.

“It seemed a little bit unfair that he seems to be constantly harassed. He seems to be constantly targeted even when he proactively informs the police of his movements and his actions, they don’t respond and they turn up and arrest him and keep him in custody.”

The matter will next be heard on August 27.