Albert Fiekaipuaka Liuaki Tangata’Olakepa, known as ‘Piggy’, charged with assisting an offender in a murder

A 150kg Carrum Downs man known as “Piggy” is accused of ditching a gun that was used to kill underworld figure Mitat Rasimi.

Police believe the gun used to murder an underworld associate of Tony Mokbel was ditched in concrete at a Brunswick construction site by a 150kg man called ‘Piggy’.

Albert Fiekaipuaka Liuaki Tangata’Olakepa – known as ‘Piggy’ because his last name means ‘He who eats pork with the king’ – was granted bail on Wednesday despite police fears the New Zealand citizen could use his Comanchero connections to flee.

The 34-year-old Carrum Downs man was charged with assisting an offender in a murder, with the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court hearing he matched the description of the alleged crook, who was a “big boy”.

Police believe the father of two was paid to ditch the gun used to shoot underworld figure Mitat Rasimi, who died in a hail of bullets, about 9.55pm on March 3, 2019.

Underworld figure Mitat Rasimi was killed in 2019.

Rasimi – once part of Tony Mokbel’s drug empire known as The Company – died in an ambush when shots were fired from a car that pulled up beside him in Dandenong.

Comancheros boss Mick Murray and patched members Laiseni Kakato and Richard Ene have been charged with Rasimi’s murder.

His death came two weeks after he allegedly told Comancheros to “f**k off” at a Dandenong gym in the presence of 50 supporters when they tried to recoup $216k in a perceived debt.

The debt was alleged to have been owed by his brother and a property developer to an investor over a 2014 failed property investment, court documents suggest.

Tony Mokbel.

Mick Murray.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard that police believe Mr Tangata’Olakepa, a construction worker, was handed the murder weapon the day after the fatal shooting, on March 4.

The gun, which has never been recovered, was understood to have been disposed of in a concrete pour at a Brunswick construction site on March 5.

Detective Acting Sgt Thomas Asciak, from the Homicide Squad, gave evidence that police found a photo on Mr Tangata’Olakepa’s mobile phone, taken on March 6, depicting wads of cash and a Rolex watch.

The court heard police believed the cash and watch were payment for a job done.

But Mr Tangata’Olakepa denied this, telling police the photo showed $5k in cash he earned cutting hair as a barber, and the watch was a gift from his employer and was a fake.

Det Asciak said Mr Tangata’Olakepa was recorded while in custody talking to another person about the photo police found, indicating the cops believed it was cash for “getting rid of a weapon”.

Asked by the other person if it was “worth it”, the court heard that he replied it wasn’t because his personal circumstances had changed – he now has a six-month-old daughter.

However, Mr Tangata’Olakepa later denied taking part in any crimes during police interviews.

“Do you rely on that conversation as an admission by this accused of secreting the murder weapon?” asked prosecutor Patrick Bourke KC.

“Yes,” Det Asciak replied.

Police opposed bail, fearing that even if the NZ citizen surrendered his passport that his connections to the Comancheros meant he could flee from the country through an unregulated port.

“He’s dealing with people very high up in the organisation,” Det Asciak said, while conceding he wasn’t a patched member, a prospect or a nominee.

“But he does have connections.”

Despite the concerns, Magistrate Simon Zebrowski said there wasn’t any evidence before the court that people had actually fled through unregulated ports.

His Honour said while the case against Mr Tangata’Olakepa was “reasonably decent”, he was satisfied he could be released with strict bail conditions.

“I’m not saying it’s a slam-dunk, but it’s not a weak case,” His Honour said.

Mr Tangata’Olakepa was granted bail with a $10,000 surety forked out by a friend, and was warned not to associate with any Comancheros.

He will return to court on January 17.