Bikie ex-girlfriend may face jail for luring man to Bulleen shooting

The ex-girlfriend of a Finks bikie may face jail time for coaxing a rival gang member into a shooting ambush by using “flirty” messages.

The ex-girlfriend of a Finks member is facing jail time after she lured a rival bikie into a near-fatal ambush – despite the alleged gunmen walking free.

Athar Almatrah, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of recklessly causing serious injury after she coaxed Mongol Rocco Curra to a quiet street in Bulleen with “flirty” messages sent from a fake Instagram account.

After he arrived, another vehicle pulled up in front of Mr Curra’s car before two gunmen jumped out and sprayed bullets through the windscreen.

Mr Curra was shot four times in the head and chest but survived the August 2019 attack.

Athar Almatrah leaves the Melbourne Supreme Court. Picture: Aaron Francis

The Supreme Court on Thursday heard Almatrah, who was dating a Fink at the time, was promised $5000 for setting the Mongol up as part of a violent tit-for-tat between the rival gangs.

Two of the men who allegedly recruited her, Sione Hokafonu and Poiva Sita, were acquitted by a jury of attempted murder earlier this year, while the alleged getaway driver Joseph Opapo was found not guilty on a lesser charge.

A fourth man, Tavita Sua had his charges dropped after the other men were acquitted.

Defence barrister Rishi Nathwani told Thursday’s pre-sentence hearing Almatrah, who pleaded guilty prior to her co-accused’s trial, never received the payment and was unaware that Mr Curra was to be shot.

Sione Hokafonu leaves the Supreme Court after being acquitted of attempted murder. Picture: Nicki Connolly.

“She anticipated he would be bashed quite seriously, but never gave any real thought to the level of violence,” he said.

The court heard Almatrah created the fake account using the name “Sarah Riccardo” and began chatting with Mr Curra because he had previously sent “sleazy” messages to her real account.

Mr Curra suspected the account to be fake and messaged Almatrah who reassured him that Riccardo was a “good girl”.

Using the fake account, Almatrah asked Mr Curra to meet up at an address allegedly given to her by the Finks.

After he arrived, Mr Curra messaged Riccardo before he was ambushed moments later.

Almatrah, who was at home, then logged out and deleted the account.

Poiva Sita leaves the Supreme Court. Picture: Luis Ascui

Police linked the account back to Almatrah and she initially told investigators Riccardo was her cousin who had recently moved from Sydney to Melbourne.

But after her house was raided, she admitted creating the fake account and was charged.

Mr Nathwani told the court his client was remorseful for her actions.

“It’s not lost on her by virtue of her actions that Mr Curra almost died,” he said.

“Her own silly actions got her here.”

But Justice Mandy Fox noted Almatrah continued asking about the payment even after learning that Mr Curra had been shot.

“She willingly went into this,” she said.

Almatrah, who is on bail, will be sentenced next week.