Comanchero boss Mick Murray charged in Mitat Rasimi murder probe

Police planted bugs that will form part of the case against Comanchero boss Mick Murray, who has been charged with the 2019 execution of a gangland figure.

Comanchero bikie boss Mick Murray has been charged by police investigating the 2019 murder of gangland figure Mitat Rasimi in Dandenong.

Murray is the national president of the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang and was taken into custody on Thursday by officers from the homicide squad.

Murray, appearing via video link from Melbourne West police station, has fronted Melbourne Magistrates Court charged with one count of murder.

The bikie boss, sporting a black Champion hoodie and black Adidas tracksuit pants, sat quietly in a chair in the middle of a bare room with his tattoo-laden hands clasped on his lap for the eight-minute hearing.

Comanchero bikie boss Mick Murray has been arrested. Picture: Ian Currie

Mitat Rasimi was found dead with gunshot wounds after his car hit a pole in Dandenong.

He only spoke when asked by magistrate Simon Zebrowski if he had understood the proceedings.

Murray replied: “Yes, your honour.”

The court heard recordings from listening devices would need to be transcribed.

It was not detailed where police had planted the listening devices or what they allegedly overheard.

Prosecutor Phillip Raimondo also successfully sought 10 weeks for homicide detectives to prepare the brief of evidence against Murray - four weeks more than the standard time.

No application for bail was made.

Murray will remain behind bars until his case returns in August.

Murray was detained in a pre-dawn raid at his Lysterfield South home.

The 44-year-old was questioned Thursday morning and charged with one count of murder, while a 32-year-old Hallam man was also arrested but released pending further enquiries.

Detectives raided Nitro Gym in Hallam about 7.20am on Thursday, a witness said.

“There were 14 black police vehicles and about 10 plain police vehicles,” the witness said.

“I looked out and thought ‘holy crap’, there were police everywhere.

“I’m bloody surprised. They blocked off all the entrances to the gym.

“The detectives went inside and then came out with a brown paper bag. It looked like a big bust.”

The witness said she often saw Murray frequent the Princes Highway gym but did not sight him on Thursday.

Rasimi was a former member of an arm of Tony Mokbel’s drug empire.

He was suspected of having links to outlaw motorcycle gang figures.

Rasimi was found unresponsive, with four bullet wounds to the chest, after crashing his Peugeot Coupe into a pole in Dandenong on March 3, 2019.

Police carried out an early morning raid on Nitro Gym in Hallam.

Mick Murray is known to frequent the gym.

The burly 51-year-old was sitting in his car on Dawn Ave when he was shot repeatedly.

Laiseni Kakato, 28, and Richard Ene, 26, are linked to the Comanchero and were charged over his murder.

The pair remains in custody.

The state’s top cop says he believes Murray’s arrest will “impact significantly” on outlaw motorcycle gangs across the state.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the developments in the case were pleasing.

“From my point of view this is an outstanding bit of police work over a lengthy period of time,” Mr Patton said on 3AW Radio.

“We have tenacity from detectives who refuse to let things slide — this has resulted in a significant arrest which will impact significantly outlaw motorcycle gangs.”

Mick Murray was detained in a pre-dawn raid at his Lysterfield South home. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Patton said he could not comment on whether victim Mitat Rasimi was the member of a rival gang but said it was a “significant” outcome for the force.

“I am not in a position to comment, I don’t know if the victim was a member of a rival gang,” he said.

“It is a significant breakthrough, it is a tribute to how they (detectives) keep trying to get this type of outcome. It is a significant outcome for us.”

The Comanchero gang takes up a wing at Port Phillip Prison in Truganina, in Melbourne’s west.

Earlier this year, Murray led the gang on its last national run from Hallam to the prison where “Como” members rode into the prison’s carpark and revved their Harley Davidsons as a signal of support to those inside the jail.

Many of its gang have been charged as a result of the ANOM sting.

Comanchero bikies during a ride in January last year. Picture: David Crosling

Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said the arrests were a result of “an incredible amount of work over the past few years” by investigators.

“Some individuals and criminal groups think they can operate above the law – time and time again they are proven wrong,” he said. 

“They may be able to avoid law enforcement for a period but it is only a matter of time before they face their day of judgement.

“We will continue to create a hostile environment for these serious and organised crime groups.

“Victoria Police will work tirelessly with our partners and the community to destroy their networks and hold them to account for their criminality.

“When the news headlines fade and the incident slips from community consciousness, our investigators continue to work undeterred on behalf of the families of victims such as this.”