Bikie involved in a bungled escape attempt fronts court

A Mongols bikie’s case has taken an interesting new twist as he fights a swag of charges relating to alleged theft of a boat and firearms possession.

A Mongols bikie facing charges of boat theft and firearms possession could be in more trouble after a trafficable quantity of drugs was allegedly found in his prison cell.

The new allegation was put before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday when Sam Chamoun was denied bail- his first attempt at temporary freedom since his arrest in late February 2023.

He is facing 15 charges, including possession of a firearm, possession of an imitation firearm, theft of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, careless driving, and failing to stop.

Mr Chamoun is accused of stealing a Nissan Patrol from Windsor on February 9, last year before allegedly stealing a boat and its trailer from a Port Melbourne multi-level carpark just a few days later.

Sam Chamoun, allegedly armed with three firearms and stole this boat from a Port Melbourne multi-level carpark. Picture: 9News

He was involved in a bungled escape attempt at Balaclava later that month after allegedly steering the Patrol to move around a police car in an attempt to escape and in turn hitting the cop car and a number of other parked cars.

Mr Chamoun was arrested and a number of items were allegedly found on him, including two satchel bags, containing a silver handgun, an inoperable antique, sawn off shotgun and two zip-lock bags holding loose ammunition.

His main ground for seeking bail was to spend time with his terminally ill father who is in palliative care but the prosecution and police opposed his application.

Senior Constable Timothy Paltridge of the Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit outlined the brief summary of the drugs allegedly found in Mr Chamoun’s cell on Tuesday this week.

The aftermath of Sam Chamoun’s alleged bungled escape attempt in Balaclava. Picture: 9News

Mr Paltridge said a cell search was conducted by Corrections staff with help of a drug detection dog in Mr Chamoun’s cell at Port Phillip Prison.

They allegedly found two strips of buprenorphine behind the label of a deodorant bottle and a further 51 strips of the same drug located inside a glove finger of another deodorant bottle.

Also allegedly found was a small ziplock bag containing an unknown white powder concealed inside a polo fleece jacket. Mr Paltridge said the estimated street value of the drug was $25,000.

Mr Chamoun was the only occupant in the cell at the time. The matter is in the process of being assigned to an investigator and for charges to be prepared.

Police allege Mr Chamoun had been trafficking buprenorphine for the Mongols. The allegation was challenged by defence lawyer Thea Milides who said the allegation of trafficking has not been made out as yet.

Police moments before arresting Mongols bikie Sam Chamoun, allegedly armed with three firearms, at Balaclava. Picture: 9News

Ms Milides said Mr Chamoun had spent 325 days in custody and was comfortable with the court setting exclusion zones for him as part of his bail condition.

Prosecutor Fraser Cameron said the Crown case pertaining to the charges faced by Mr Chamoun was “strong” and that the latter has previously breached his bail and parole conditions.

He said there was “too much risk” in granting bail.

Magistrate Nahrain Warda pointed to the serious charges before the court, Mr Chamoun’s extensive criminal history and the strong prosecution case as grounds for rejecting bail.

“Even if a compelling case for bail was made out, the risk to the community of committing further offences and endangering the safety and welfare of the community is a real risk, in my view,” she said.