Rebels bikie Romia Roi charged with false imprisonment after alleged Preston blackmail
A Rebels bikie and promising Moorabbin rugby union player is back on the street despite facing charges arising from a frightening alleged blackmail and false imprisonment of a Preston Business owner.
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A Rebels bikie who was part of a crew which allegedly blackmailed a Preston business owner is back on the street.
Romia Roi, 22, was granted bail in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday after he was charged with offences including false imprisonment, blackmail and aggravated burglary.
Roi and his Rebel bikie cronies allegedly stormed a Preston motorcycle repair shop on April 7 this year.
The court was told the bikies allegedly detained the shop’s owner and his friend then stole $200,000 worth of expensive goods including a Harley Davison, two other motorcycles, his Fiat, jewellery, a TV, a laptop and DJ gear.
Roi and the other bikies allegedly used “menaces” when they demanded the owner cough up $20,000 for the return of his property.
The hour-long alleged ordeal — where the alleged victim thought a rifle was placed at the back of his head — ended when Roi and the other bikies allegedly demanded $20,000 for the return of his goods.
The alleged victim — who we have chosen not to name for legal reasons — paid up the $20,000 the next day but his goods were not returned.
The court was told the alleged victim — a member of a “non-1%” bikie gang — had fallen out with the Rebels after he repeatedly ignored requests to join their gang.
It’s alleged the gang rused the alleged victim into being at his store the day of the alleged raid via a bogus request to fix a motorcycle.
The court was told Rebels Victorian president Ray Elise — who is facing deportation to New Zealand — befriended the alleged victim who he referred to as “Chief”.
Elise, the alleged victim and other bikies dined together at a St Kilda restaurant where the offer to join the Rebels was first made, the court heard.
The alleged victim — who no criminal priors — had associated with the Rebels for more than a year prior to the alleged blackmail.
He told police Roi had allegedly participated in the burglary, and phone records allegedly showed the New Zealand citizen was in the Preston area at the time.
Police then allegedly found several stolen items at Roi’s Point Cook home during a raid on May 13.
Vision of the stolen motorcycles and car was allegedly found on Roi’s phone.
An image of Roi covered in $100 notes — believed to have been from the payout — was also discovered.
Magistrate Johanna Metcalf bailed Roi with strict conditions, including a ban on him associating with OMCG members and using encrypted phone applications.
The court was told Roi — a promising Moorabbin Rugby Union Football Club player — could live with his partner’s mother in Langwarrin.
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