The court heard the ACT Rebels had “disbanded” and become the “All Brothers Crew” or “Ali Bilal Crew” in late 2022 to early 2023. Photo: NSW Police Facebook.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.
Police revealed details about the current state of outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGS) in the ACT during bail applications for an alleged top bikie.
The man, whom Region hasn’t named to protect his alleged victim’s identity, was arrested earlier this month and handed 11 family violence charges.
He is accused of repeatedly assaulting and choking his ex-partner from December 2024 to March 2025, including spitting in her face multiple times, attacking her on Christmas Day and holding her down to stop her from leaving a bedroom.
Bail was originally refused, but was granted when he re-applied a week later in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday (16 April).
But ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Victoria Engel SC immediately appealed this decision, which meant it had to be reviewed in the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday (17 April).
It is believed to be only the third time in which the DPP has asked the higher court to review a magistrate’s decision to grant bail.
During the man’s sentencing for unrelated matters in 2023, the court heard he had been one of the top members of the Rebels in Canberra. However, he had supposedly left the group by the time he was sentenced.
Last week, a detective sergeant, who used to be in the bikie-busting Taskforce Nemesis, told the court the ACT Rebels had “disbanded” and became the “All Brothers Crew” or “Ali Bilal Crew” in late 2022 to early 2023.
All members then eventually “patched over” to the Finks in 2023.
This detective alleged Ali Bilal, aged in his 50s, had been the president of the Canberra Rebels, but was now believed to be a “world president” of the Finks OMCG.
The detective did say he understood the Finks had multiple “world presidents”.
The court heard that while a prominent Canberra lawyer provided information indicating that one person was now the president of the ACT Finks, the detective stated that police intelligence suggested this person was a “figurehead” and not actually in charge.
The detective said recent intelligence claimed Bilal was at the top of the group, then the man currently before the court was president of the ACT Finks.
During cross-examination by defence barrister Anthony Williamson SC, the detective admitted police had “intelligence” that his client was in an OMCG, but no “hard evidence” of his involvement since May 2024.
However, the detective said police believed the man “never left” the Rebels, then patched over to the Finks with the rest of the gang.
A second detective sergeant said the man’s ex-partner was “extremely scared” at the prospect of him getting bail.
“She’s very, very scared about what could happen if he gets out,” the detective said.
He claimed prosecutions of OMCG members very rarely involved witness statements due to the reputations the gangs built, and if a member knew a person would be giving evidence against them, “that person will be at extreme risk”.
Mr Williamson described the law that allows the DPP to appeal a magistrate’s bail decision as “extraordinary in nature” as it effectively allowed a branch of the government to override a court decision to release a person.
He also said the prosecution’s opposition to bail was “beset by the type of hysteria” that seemed to be attached to people accused of being involved in an OMCG.
Mr Williamson pointed out issues the prosecution would have in proving the charges against his client, as the ex-partner had sent his client text messages after she first went to police in which she was “pleading for him to come back”.
Justice David Mossop ultimately stated that he was satisfied the man had been in contact with the Finks and believed it was unlikely that the contact had ceased.
He thought there was a risk the man would interfere with the evidence and refused bail.
The man has entered not guilty pleas to all charges, which are two counts of choking, eight counts of assault and one count of unlawful confinement. The matter will return to court later this month.
He denies being a member of an OMCG.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
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