COURT CON JOB CLAIMS
New bombshell in bikies and Bomber-linked probe as police allege suspected criminals are getting fake documents to avoid court penalties
EXPLOSIVE claims offenders are using false documents to dupe Victorian courts into withdrawing penalties have emerged as part of the wide-ranging police probe that swept up Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson.
A Highton man has been accused of creating fake documents allegedly used in court resulting in multiple licences being returned to disqualified drivers.
Andrew Ng, 29, was arrested and charged on Wednesday with perverting the course of justice, deception and making false documents. It’s understood Mr Ng came to the police’s attention after bikie Karl ‘Bang Bang’ Holt and girlfriend Katia Drcec were stopped on the Princes Highway in Corio on January 4.
Authorities allege they found cash and 100g of white crystals in the car, which led to raids that included Bomber’s Port Melbourne apartment and a police interview with the ex-Cats coach.
This week it was alleged in Mr Ng’s case that three fraudulent doctor’s letters were also among the evidence police seized from Bang Bang’s car. Police alleged in court Mr Ng created fake certificates purporting to be from a Geelong clinic which were used by Bang Bang to support a previous bid to avoid jail.
Mr Ng’s lawyer conceded the case could open a “Pandora’s box” if it was found court orders had been made relying on falsified evidence.
EXPLOSIVE new allegations have been aired in court as part of the wide-ranging investigation that saw a drug raid on Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson’s home in Port Melbourne.
A Highton man has been accused of creating fake documents allegedly used in court resulting in multiple licences being returned to disqualified drivers.
Andrew Ng, 29, was arrested and charged on Wednesday with perverting the course of justice, deception and making false documents.
It is understood Mr Ng came to police attention after Karl ‘Bang Bang’ Holt and girlfriend Katia Drcec were stopped on the Princes Highway in Corio on January 4. Police allege they found a stash of cash and more than 100g of a white crystal substance in the car, which led to raids at a home in Mill Park and Thompson’s apartment.
Three fraudulent doctor’s letters were among the evidence police say they seized from Holt’s car.
In Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, police prosecutor Senior Constable David Vanderpol alleged Mr Ng created fake doctor’s certificates purporting to be from the East Geelong Medical Clinic, which were then used by Holt to support a previous bid to avoid jail.
It is not suggested that the clinic was knowingly involved in any way in any fraud.
Sen-Constable Vanderpol said a search on Mr Ng’s Highton home this week un- covered a range of material including fraudulent pay sheets, phones and Visa cards bearing different names.
He said police also seized keys, a USB stick and a laptop.
Mr Ng, who is in custody, was not in court for Wednesday’s hearing.
Instead, he was represented by Legal Aid lawyer Wendy Gibbons, who said the case could open a “Pandora’s box” if it was found court orders had been made relying on falsified evidence. “He’s aware these are very serious charges,” Ms Gibbons said.
She made no application for bail on his behalf.
The exact way the documents might have been used to escape culpability or avoid penalties has not yet been detailed in court.
Holt, 31, and Ms Drcec, 22, both from Mill Park, have been in custody since their arrest and are facing various charges for drug dealing and gun possession.
It is understood their associate, Thomas Windsor, 28, had been residing at Mark Thompson’s Port Melbourne home while he was absent.
The home was raided by police on January 5. Mr Windsor has also been charged with drug trafficking.
Thompson, a flag-winning Geelong Cats coach and Essendon premiership player, was interviewed by police but has not been charged.
Mr Ng will return to court in April and is facing separate offences including theft.
Police allege he broke into a Metropolitan Fire Brigade-marked car on April 20 last year and stole several items, including flashing emergency lights.