Harley Joe Barbaro allegedly caught consorting with convicted criminals in Anzac Day gym photo
Police have released a photo and video showing the moment accused bikies were caught breaching COVID-19 mass gathering restrictions and consorting laws during a group gym session on the Gold Coast. SEE THE PHOTO AND VIDEO OF THE ARRESTS
Police & Courts
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POLICE have released photos and footage showing the arrest of alleged bikies accused of habitually consorting and breaching COVID-19 restrictions by having a mass gathering at a Biggera Waters gym on ANZAC Day.
Harley Joe Barbaro, a member of the notorious family and the brother of slain Sydney underworld boss Pasquale Barbaro, was among those allegedly caught working out with the group.
He was charged with consorting and also fined $1,334 for breaching the public health directive, as were five others police say were at the gym.
Police released an Instagram photo showing a group of eight men posing for a photo outside the gym along with footage of subsequent arrests.
A further three other men were issued COVID-19 fines when police attended the same gym yesterday to find another group working out together.
Barbaro faced Southport Magistrates Court yesterday charged with habitually consorting between January 12 and April 26. He was granted bail yesterday on the condition he not contact men named in a consorting notice and remain at his Ashmore home.
It is alleged that in July 2017, November 2017, May 2018 and February this year Barbaro was served by police with consorting warning notices telling him he could not associate with Todd Anthony Barnes and Tyrone Wilton Norman Poole.
Police allege they warned Barbaro twice in March for associating with Mr Barnes.
On April 26, police became aware of a social media post made by a friend of the three men.
It is alleged the post contained a picture taken on Anzac Day of Barbaro, Mr Poole, Mr Barnes and other men at a private gym in Biggera Waters.
Police claim the photos proves Barbaro was consorting with the two men he should not have been.
A search of the home of the man who posted the photo was conducted by police on Wednesday.
Police also allege they found a picture showing Barbaro, Mr Barnes and Mr Poole having dinner in Labrador in January.
Outside of court, Barbaro’s lawyer Campbell MacCallum said his client had also been issued with an infringement notice for disobeying the public health directive.
He said Barbaro would be fighting the habitually consorting charge.
“We are willing to take up this fight once again to ensure citizens have the right to associate and socialise with whomever they choose without arbitrary interference from police,” Mr MacCallum said.
“We need to maintain such fundamental rights against draconian laws such as these and the only way is to fight to the death in court.”
Barbaro, in mid-2018, was among the first in the state to be charged with the consorting laws and he was acquitted of the charge in March last year.
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