Hasan Gunes, 32, facing potential jail time over driving charges

A man who was granted bail to visit his terminally ill father is back before court on more charges and has been warned he could be locked up.

Hasan Gunes (left) with his brothers Dogan and Ali (right)

A man granted bail so he could visit his dying dad in Turkey has reappeared in court where a magistrate warned he could be sent back to the clink on driving charges.

Hasan Gunes, 32, was freed in September on charges over an alleged fracas with an ex-Comanchero following a Supreme Court bid for bail, and flew to Turkey to see his terminally ill father.

The charges related to a Western Freeway clash in July, where he was accused of ramming then brandishing a hammer at former Comanchero bikie Harwe Sherwani while he was already on bail over a 2021 Greenvale shootout.

On Tuesday, Mr Gunes returned to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where Magistrate Steven Raleigh said he faced lock-up on separate charges of driving while suspended, breaching bail and refusing a breath test.

The court heard Mr Gunes told cops he “just wanted to see his girlfriend” after he was pulled over when driving on a suspended licence, in May 2022.

According to a police summary, he was on bail and breaching curfew, was unable to produce his driver’s licence, refused to accompany officers to the station for a breath test and couldn’t be interviewed due to “intoxication”.

Among his prior offences that were submitted to the court were three charges of driving while suspended.

Mr Raleigh made Mr Gunes an offer to suspend his licence for two years if he pleaded guilty to the three charges, but that offer was declined.

“Does he realise he’s facing a jail term if unsuccessful in this matter,” His Honour asked defence lawyer Thea Milides.

“He’s aware,” Ms Milides replied, noting that mens rea – his state of mind at the time – was in issue in the case.

“He has every right to plead not guilty, no-one’s going to force him to plead guilty,” the magistrate said.

Mr Gunes was ordered to return to court for a one-day contest mention over the driving charges on March 8.