One of Perth’s most notorious bikies is back in Perth under forced quarantine after he was granted permission to fly to the east coast to attend a motorcycle club funeral.
Former Coffin Cheater Troy Mercanti is on strict bail conditions but was last month granted permission in court to attend.
Despite interstate travel restrictions remaining in place for West Australians because of coronavirus, WA Police prosecutors did not oppose the move to have Mr Mercanti’s bail conditions altered so he could leave WA.
The 52-year-old has been accused of breaching parole conditions by mixing with motorcycle club associates and visiting licenced venues but was granted leave to fly interstate, where he rode alongside 85 members of the Mongols MC for the funeral of a patched bikie member.
Premier Mark McGowan said he was “unimpressed” and an internal police investigation was underway to determine how Mr Mercanti was allowed back into WA while there was a hard border in place.
“He’s not a desirable person and it shouldn’t have happened,” he said.
“The Police Commissioner has acknowledged that and apologised.
“Clearly he’s not someone we think should be able to do those sorts of things, he’s not someone who deserves that, but the mistake was made in the court and there’s not much we can do about that now it’s all been done.”
Mr Mercanti had previously served seven years in jail for assaults on his ex-wife.
While details on who the funeral was for were not revealed in court, Nine News Perth on Wednesday reported a “criminal affiliation” to the funeral, which was held 11 days ago in the NSW border region of Tweed at the Melaleuca Station Memorial Gardens.
WA Police Minister Michelle Roberts said she was “pretty furious” after she became aware of the issue on Wednesday.
“This is unbelievable,” she said in a statement.
“There is no way Mercanti’s application to alter his bail conditions should have been looked on favourably.
“This is something that police should have vehemently opposed and been knocked back by the courts.”
Mr Mercanti is back in Perth and under quarantine after returning from Queensland.
The bikie is usually required to report to police every Tuesday as part of bail conditions but he has been exempted from that until next week.
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Source: WA Today by Jerrie Demasi