Police hunt thugs over convicted dealer’s assault at South Melbourne gym
The owner of a popular South Melbourne gym has been left seriously injured by a group of thugs who stormed the business and assaulted him inside.
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Police are hunting a group of thugs who stormed a South Melbourne gym before assaulting its muscleman owner with links to Melbourne’s underworld in front of shocked patrons.
It is believed the group of three men and a woman burst into Halo Gym on Montague St about 1pm on Saturday, where they beat owner Moslehi “AK” Roudi inside.
Roudi, 27, was taken to hospital with serious injuries following the suspected targeted attack, which forced the popular gym to shut its doors for several days.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers arrested two men who broke into the gym the day after the assault and were also investigating a burglary at the business.
The gym remained closed over the weekend following the attack, reopening its doors on Tuesday.
Police now have 24-hour surveillance trained on the gym’s entrance.
Questions have been raised over the motive behind the attack against Roudi, who in 2021 pleaded guilty to slinging cocaine to an undercover police officer in 2019.
A court heard at the time that the known local identity kicked off his drug racket at South Melbourne tattoo shop City of Ink, owned by ex-Mongols member Toby Mitchell and former Tigers star Jake King before it closed last year.
Roudi sold one undercover cop several grams of cocaine in a $4000 deal at West Melbourne just days after selling the same officer an ounce of the drug at South Melbourne restaurant Hunk Dory.
Moslehi Roudi sold the undercover cop another 14 grams of cocaine for $4000 in a deal which took place at West Melbourne.
In another sting, he peddled another officer meth, cocaine and ecstasy.
In total, Roudi trafficked seven ounces of cocaine in exchange for $58,000 in several deals between January and August 2019.
Roudi, who was once a competitive bodybuilder, also once worked as a VIP manager at strip club Dreams Gentleman’s Club in Melbourne’s CBD.
The two men arrested at the gym on Sunday have been released pending further inquiries.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage or information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report at www.crimestoppers.com.au
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