Victorian prison war driven by conflict between bikies and Middle Eastern organised crime groups
PRISONERS are arming themselves en masse as warring bikies throw the state’s biggest maximum-security jail into chaos, with a spate of stabbings and bashings at the jail this year.
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PRISONERS are arming themselves en masse as warring bikies throw the state’s biggest maximum-security jail into chaos.
Conflict between outlaw motorcycle gangs and violence ordered by Middle Eastern organised-crime groups is driving the trouble at Port Phillip Prison, west of Melbourne.
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On Thursday night, killer and former gangland figure Christopher Orfanidis, 33, was taken to hospital after being stabbed — the latest in a spate of stabbings and bashings at the jail this year.
The Herald Sun has been told that scores of “shivs” — makeshift knives — have been seized in recent weeks during searches in the worst-affected units at the jail.
Ongoing friction outside the prison has led to attacks on tattoo parlours linked to bikies and is believed to be a factor in the violence behind bars. A fight for control of the illicit drug trade in the jail is believed to be another cause of the recent trouble.
One source told the Herald Sun: “It is a cesspit in there ... there is a war going on.”
An ex-Mongol bikie is believed to be a key player in some of the violence. He was arrested in police raids last year in which a homemade machine gun, drugs and a police uniform were found.
Rebels, Bandidos and Comancheros bikies are all believed to have been involved in the recent prison unrest.
Searches of two of the most notorious units — Scarborough North and Scarborough South — are believed to have uncovered the weapons.
Orfanidis pleaded guilty this year to bashing a man to death with the butt of a rifle.
He chased Phi Long Ung in a terrifying road-rage incident after the pair argued over a carparking space. Orfanidis smashed Mr Ung’s skull with the gun and left him by the side of the road. Mr Ung, 37, died in hospital 16 days later.
Orfanidis was not seriously injured in Thursday’s attack.
A Corrections Victoria spokesman said: “Police were immediately notified and are investigating the incident.”
The jail was placed in lockdown on March 25 when several guards were injured in a vicious attack. Six prison officers — both men and women — were taken to hospital after the brawl in the jail’s visitor centre at 11.30am.
Days before that incident, members of the Comancheros and Bandidos faced off in the prison’s gym.
On April 1, a bikie was stabbed in the back when his rivals noticed there were no prison guards around.
And on January 5, a prisoner was stabbed after it was alleged he had slept with another inmate’s girlfriend.
G4S has managed the prison under a state government contract since 1997.
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G4S director of justice operations, Brett McMerrin, said: “G4S can confirm an incident occurred at Port Phillip Prison on the evening of May 11.
“A prisoner was assaulted and transferred to hospital for assessment and treatment. The prisoner has since been released from hospital and transferred back to Port Phillip Prison.
“Victoria Police attended the prison and are investigating the incident.”