Finks bikie Sione Hokafonu an ‘unacceptable risk’: court

A high-level bikie accused of shooting a rival gang member after allegedly luring him with a fake promise of a date with a woman has been refused bail.

A man alleged to be a leader of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang has been refused bail because of the risk he would pose to the public.

Sione Hokafonu is charged with the attempted murder of Mongols bikie Rocco Curra in August 2019 in an alleged act of retribution between the two rival gangs.

His third bail application since his arrest in January 2020 was rejected by magistrate Phillip Goldberg in Melbourne on Monday because of his affiliation with the Finks.

“I have no doubt there is a risk, a significant risk, a substantial risk, that would flow from Mr Hokafonu being released in the general community,” he said.

Mr Hokafonu’s parents had offered to put up $200,000 as bail surety.

His lawyer had also proposed bail conditions be imposed, including banning him from associating with other members of the Finks.

But Mr Goldberg said the proposed limitations “do not attend to the risk”.

Rocco Curra was allegedly lured to a location through a fake Instagram profile before at least 12 bullets were emptied into his car. Picture: Channel 7

“He would simply effectively be, on those conditions, free to come and go as he likes save for some curfew hours and effectively able to maintain whatever influence he may have,” he said.

Prosecutor Briana Goding said a witness had alleged to police that Mr Hokafonu “sought assurance” the witness’s girlfriend “wouldn’t talk” after the shooting.

She told the court that as well as a direct role in the attempted murder, Mr Hokafonu was alleged to have been “directing others in their movements surrounding this case”.

Mr Curra’s shooting is alleged to have been part of an escalating series of violent acts between the Finks and the Mongols that included Mr Hokafonu also being shot in the foot.

Police allege the victim was invited to the shooting location under a guise.

The court was previously told that Mr Curra thought he was going for a date with a woman he had met on Instagram.

Instead, he was allegedly fired at by two men who drove up and jumped out of a car, emptying 12 bullets into Mr Curra’s parked vehicle.

Mr Curra was left alive but with a bullet that had to be removed from his brain.

Police released CCTV of the shooting of Rocco Curra in Bulleen in August 2019 that allegedly showed two men jumping out of a car and shooting into Mr Curra’s parked vehicle. Picture: Supplied

The bail application was heard despite previous attempts in the magistrates and supreme courts being rejected because of “new facts and circumstances”, including lengthy delays in the justice system caused by COVID-19.

Mr Goldberg said the case may not reach trial until 2023.

Mr Hokafonu has already been in jail for more than a year without the case progressing through the courts.

Mr Goldberg said COVID-19 had caused an “inordinate delay”.

“A person is charged with one of the most significant charges in the court calendar and yet the courts are unable to provide a trial within a reasonable time,” he said.

But he said that was not enough to counter the “unacceptable risk” of Mr Hokafonu being released on bail.

Sixteen people were charged in relation to the shooting.

Originally published as Finks bikie Sione Hokafonu an ‘unacceptable risk’: court