Bailed bikie boss Mick Murray will escape the winter blues after a magistrate ruled he could fly to Thailand and Dubai for some fun in the sun — despite police arguing his passport should not be given back to him.
The Comancheros’ president will on Thursday nigh jet off to Phuket to start a two-week break with a mate, after successfully applying for his bail conditions to be suspended. Gang-busting detectives had argued that Murray, 41, facing more than 100 fraud-related charges, was an unacceptable risk of never returning.
But Melbourne magistrate Susan Wakeling on Wednesday said she was not satisfied the risk was too great.
“It is not for me to determine whether travel is desirable, but whether the relevant risk is unacceptable,” she said. She said if Murray failed to return, he would face separation from his partner and young daughter and would be abandoning his gym business.
“I do not accept this is a risk he would take,” she said.
As part of his application, Murray had offered a $1 million surety from a friend and sometime business partner Graham Ritchie, who has provided a similar surety for Murray before. Mr Ritchie said he understood that if his mate absconded, he would lose it all.
Murray then got his passport back, enabling him to keep to his sunbake schedule of five days on the Thai island, then 10 days in Dubai.
Echo taskforce detective Senior Constable Luke Dalli had earlier told the court the surety did little to appease his concerns. “It would increase my concerns that he has access to large amounts of money at short notice,” he said.
Snr-Constable Dalli said Murray had access to money and fake IDs and the “means and motivation to flee”.
Murray had an extensive criminal history, including drugs, assault and contempt offences, he added. His holiday mate, Peter Sampson, also had a criminal history. Murray could be turned back at the border under an agreement with Thailand. In addition to his criminal history, the gym franchise owner is facing a tax debt of more than $1 million.
Murray was arrested and charged last December after raids by Echo taskforce on businesses across Melbourne including gyms, lawyers’ offices and accounting firms. Police allege Murray engaged his co-accused to fraudulently obtain a bank loan to buy a Jeep. Many of the charges relate to allegedly avoiding tolls and traffic fines in it.
Murray will fight the charges at a one-day contested hearing in September.
Murray’s lawyer Mark Gumbleton said Thailand and Dubai had extradition agreements with Australia and no Comanchero links. But the Herald Sun has been told the club is established in Thailand.
Outside the court, Murray refused to answer questions.
WHAT THE DEFENCE ARGUED IN COURT
$1 million surety to ensure he returns Family ties to Melbourne including his daughter, 11. Owns a chain of gyms he is unlikely to abandon. Only faces a maximum of two years’ jail. Has never failed to appear for court appearances. Thailand and UAE have extradition agreements with Australia.
WHAT POLICE ARGUED IN COURT
He has an extensive record including assault, drug and gun offences Has access to large amounts of money and IDs. Has been jailed for contempt — showing his disregard for law, authorities. Owes more than $1 million to the ATO. Bail allows him to holiday anywhere in Australia, no need to travel overseas.
On hearing the decision, a smiling Murray turned to Mr Ritchie in the court and asked: “Cash or cheque?“
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Source: The West Australian