‘Suspicious’ fire destroys house

LONDON, ONT. A late-night fire on Thursday has destroyed a luxury home recently raided by police as part of a co-ordinated crackdown on the outlaw motorcycle gang the Hells Angels.

Police and fire responded to the fire at 203 Commissioners Rd. E. about 11 p.m. Thursday. The fire is considered “suspicious,” London police said, and the blaze “destroyed” the home — with the loss estimated at $1 million.

The home was searched by provincial police Dec. 12 as part of a two-year investigation called Operation Hobart, which led to the arrest of 28 Ontario residents on 228 charges and the dismantling of an alleged multimillion-dollar gambling operation.

The home is owned by a woman named Habiba Kajan, 43, who is charged with 10 offences, including unauthorized possession of a firearm, tampering with a serial number and instructing commission of an offence for a criminal organization.

Kajan was in custody Thursday, according to an OPP statement.

The OPP allege the gambling operation had made $131 million in illegal revenue during five years by using five different websites.

Police contend three alleged members of the Hells Angels, including a Londoner, controlled the operation, which was connected to a prominent alleged Mafia crime family during the investigation.

Police searched a total of five locations in London as part of the investigation, which involved 17 law enforcement organizations, including police in London, Woodstock and Stratford and the Canada Revenue Agency.

Among the people arrested were Londoner Robert Barletta, 49, nicknamed the “Teflon biker” for keeping his record clean.

He is facing 12 weapons and bookmaking charges, as well as commission of an offence for a criminal organization and income tax evasion. He is in custody.

Barletta is a founder of the London Hells Angels chapter and a former president.

Besides Kajan, two other Londoners are also charged. Gordon Baird, 62, faces three bookmaking charges and commission of an offence for a criminal organization. He was released with a first court appearance in January.

Dejan Markovic, 38, is charged with six firearms offences, three bookmaking offences, possession of property obtained by crime and commission of an offence for a criminal organization. Police and fire officials said Friday the cause of the fire remained under investigation.

Ontario’s Fire Marshal was contacted as part of the probe.