Comanchero bikie charged with murder of Mokbel associate
Figures linked to the Comanchero bikie gang are under scrutiny after a morning of raids by police probing the Love Machine drive-by killings and the shooting of Tony Mokbel associate Mitat Rasimi. One member, Richard Ene, has been charged with Rasimi’s murder.
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Gangland detectives are closing in on senior underworld figures over two high-profile homicides as it emerged one of the killings may have been over a debt.
Figures closely linked to the Comanchero motorcycle gang are under intense scrutiny after a morning of raids by police investigating the Love Machine drive-by double killing and the shooting of Tony Mokbel associate Mitat Rasimi, both earlier this year.
A gun seized at one address will be tested for links to the Rasimi murder.
The Sector taskforce — which has been secretly running an investigation into the fatal attacks — on Thursday led eight pre-dawn raids across Melbourne’s southeast.
Two men were arrested as dozens of police swooped at 5am. Gang apparel was seized by detectives executing one of the warrants.
Comanchero Richard Ene, 25, of Hampton Park, faced court on Thursday charged with the murder of Rasimi and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
The second man held, a 26-year-old from Hallam, was later released.
The man released is believed to have links with the Comancheros.
Ene leaned forward in the dock of Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday as prosecutors said they needed more time to prepare a brief of evidence.
The court heard ballistics reports were being readied and detectives needed to work through a large volume of phone intercepts, some in another language.
CCTV footage will also form part of the evidence, the court heard.
Mr Ene nodded when magistrate Jelena Popovic asked him if he knew why he was in custody.
When asked if he knew the hearing was simply to just set dates for future hearings, he replied: “Yep.”
His case was adjourned until April 9.
Underworld sources have told the Herald Sun Mr Ene was often seen at the side of senior Comanchero and ex-model Hasan Topal, and had acted as his bodyguard.
It is believed Rasimi had been at odds with elements of the Comancheros over a debt. He tried to use a rival bikie gang to broker a peace deal, an underworld source said — adding Rasimi was dead within weeks of a meeting over the matter.
Special operations group members were used in on Thursday’s raids, with warrants executed in Hampton Park, Hallam, Dandenong, Deer Park, Seaford, Endeavour Hills and Narre Warren South.
Officers from the anti-bikie Echo taskforce, the homicide and dog squads and Australian Federal Police were also involved. The AFP has access to hi-tech search equipment.
Taskforce Sector has for six months been probing common suspects in the Love Machine killings in Prahran on April 14 and the fatal shooting of Rasimi at Dandenong on March 3.
Three men have so far been charged over the 3am shooting at the Love Machine nightclub which claimed the lives of security guard Aaron Osmani and club patron Richard Arow. People outside the club were sprayed with gunfire from a passing Porsche SUV.
Jacob Elliott, 18, has been charged with two counts of murder and three of attempted murder.
Allan Fares, 22, a mate of Mr Elliott, is facing the same charges, and Moussa Hamka, 25, is facing counts of being an accessory after the fact to murder, possessing a firearm, stalking, making threats to kill and other offences.
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Rasimi was ambushed in his car on Dawn Ave. He tried to flee the gunman but crashed his vehicle into a pole.
The former member of Mokbel’s drug empire died at the scene from gunshot wounds. An attempt was made to torch an orange Ford Ranger ute, believed connected to the killing, 30 minutes later in Bangholme.