Six members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, including four from the south west region, have been arrested and charged over the alleged kidnapping and assault of a man in May. On May 10, police were made aware of an incident where a 45-year-old man had allegedly been abducted and assaulted by a number of men. The man was allegedly attacked by the men outside a property in Castlereagh during the evening of Thursday, May 8, before he was taken inside the property, tied up and repeatedly assaulted.
On the following Saturday, the victim regained consciousness and found that the men had left the property. He was able to contact a friend, who transported him to hospital where he was treated for a number of injuries to his head, torso and limbs. Detectives from State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad formed Strike Force Salsola to investigate the incident. Police inquiries established that four cars, a speed boat, three quad bikes and other property were stolen during the assault.
Over the course of the past few days, Gangs Squad detectives arrested and charged six members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang – including high-ranking members from the Penrith and Liverpool chapters – in relation to the kidnapping. On August 4) police arrested a 27-year-old Green Valley man and a 24-year-old Werrington County man. The following day officers arrested a 30-year-old Emu Plains man and a 23-year-old man from Miller. And on August 6 detectives arrested a 23-year-old man from Glenfield, and 24 hours later arrested a 32-year-old Emu Plains man.
All six were charged with special aggravated kidnapping and with participating in a criminal group, before being refused police bail. They have all since appeared in court and have been bail refused to next appear in Penrith Local Court on September 19.
Investigators have recovered two of the vehicles and three of the quad bikes stolen during the kidnapping. Police have also arrested and charged another Rebels member – a 23-year-old from Liverpool – with receiving stolen goods and fraud offences relating to the registration of one of the stolen vehicles. The investigation by Strike Force Salsola continues.
- In other news, a Leppington store was robbed and its owner assaulted on Saturday evening. Police say two men walked into a bottle shop on Camden Valley Way around 5.20pm and took three items from a shelf, walked out without paying. When the store owner followed them, he was allegedly confronted by one of the men. A short altercation ensued, during which the owner was punched in the face. The men left the scene in a blue Holden Barina with two of the items from the shop. Police from Liverpool Local Area Command attended the store and established a crime scene. Officers would now like to speak with two men who may be able to assist with inquiries. The first man has been described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his early 20s, approximately 180cm tall, with a skinny build and a tattoo on the right hand side of his neck. The second man has been described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 178cm tall, aged in his early 20s, and with a skinny build.
- A man was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash at Casula on Saturday morning. Police say that about 2.50am emergency services were called to the M5 near the Camden Valley Way exit after reports of a crash. A BMW sedan was travelling along a westbound lane when it struck a concrete barrier. The male driver, believed to be aged in his 30s, sustained internal injuries. He was treated at the scene by Ambulance Officers before being taken to Liverpool Hospital in a serious condition. Investigations have commenced to determine the cause of the crash and officers from Liverpool Local Area Command have established a crime scene.
