Rebels bikie enforcer Jerome Ah Soon claimed he was playing Call of Duty during police check
A high-ranking Rebels bikie enforcer facing violent blackmail and extortion charges says he was too busy playing a popular — and noisy — video game to answer the door when police came to check he was following his bail conditions.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A high-ranking Rebels’ bikie has narrowly avoided going back to prison after telling a judge he was playing Call of Duty during a late-night police curfew check.
Rebels sergeant-at-arms Jerome Ah Soon, 28, survived a three-day bail revocation application which was resolved in the County Court today.
The application was brought on after police conducted curfew checks at Ah Soon’s western suburbs home on June 15 and June 16 this year.
Police knocked on the stay-at-home dad’s door just after 10pm on both occasions but Ah Soon was a no show.
A condition of Ah Soon’s bail was he must be home between 6pm and 6am everyday.
Ah Soon later told police he didn’t hear the doorbell because he was playing Call of Duty with his partner and children.
He claimed he was wearing headphones while playing the mobile only version of the violent and noisy first person shooter game.
Ah Soon, who was questioned on the stand regarding the validity of his claim, was shown evidence he was not logged into the game when he claimed to be playing.
However, the prosecution could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ah Soon was not home when police knocked on his door.
Judge George Georgiou gave Ah Soon the benefit of the doubt and allowed the feared enforcer to remain in the community but with tighter bail conditions.
Ah Soon must ensure he is in a “position at all times to hear the front door bell”.
He must also ensure he answers all phone calls to his mobile from police during the curfew hours.
Judge Georgiou warned the “onus” was on Ah Soon to comply including ensuring his phone was charged and the doorbell had a working battery.
Ah Soon and Rebels’ associates Eliseko Seko and Luke Kneale are awaiting trial for alleged violent extortions in Melbourne’s west where one victim was handed a bullet in an envelope.
Hamish Stojkovic, was jailed in May after pleading guilty to charges including two counts of extortion with threat to kill, and carjacking.
The court heard during Stojkovic’s plea that the Rebels crew targeted their two victims between January and March last year.
The first victim was lured to the carpark at the Melton McDonald’s near Woodgrove shopping Centre on January 24, the court heard.
The bikies — who wore their “colours” — allegedly forced the victim to hand over the keys to his ute.
The bikies, Stojkovic and the victim then drove to a second location.
The man, who was “fearful for his life”, was told he had until Monday to hand over $20,000.
On March 3, the Rebels’ crew allegedly targeted their next victim.
The crew allegedly extorted $1900 from the man and his friends after claiming they were collecting cash for an apparent car repairs debt.
The victim was later summonsed to Domino’s Pizza in Melton where he allegedly handed $1100 to a bikie, the court heard.
The man was ordered into neighbouring Mac’s Hotel where Ah Soon allegedly told the victim he “had a present for him”.
Ah Soon allegedly handed the victim an envelope which contained a shotgun cartridge, the court heard.
“Put that in your pocket,” he said.
Later, one of the Rebels’ allegedly said: “A bullet similar to the one in the envelope will be put in the (victim’s) head.”
The “petrified” victim showed the bullet to a friend and said he needed $5000 by Friday or “this is going in me”.
Stojkovic was jailed on May 21 to a maximum four years and six months with a non-parole period of two years and 10 months.
Ah Soon, Seko and Kneale are awaiting trial dates.
MORE NEWS
DIRTBAG SON STOLE $1 MILLION FROM DAD TO FUND FLASH LIFESTYLE
TEACHER WINS $1 MILLION COMPO AFTER SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS