Cops access denied over privacy

ACCUSED Villains gang member Harley Barbaro says he refused to give police access to his phone due to “explicit photos” of another woman.

Barbaro smiled on the stand in Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday after he was fined $600 for failing to provide police access to his phone.

Police raided Barbaro’s Bundall home on Friday after the 25-year-old was involved in an online feud with former Hells Angels bike gang member Ben “Notorious” Geppert.

In the post, Barbaro called Geppert a “maggot dog” and warned him not to “bring dead brothers into it”.

Police prosecutor Ben Fotheringham told the court police found Barbaro’s phone in a sportsbag. When police asked for access to the phone, Barbaro refused. He was arrested and held in police custody overnight.

Defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum, of Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, said the raid was the result of a “childish” Instagram argument.

Mr MacCallum said the reason Barbaro did not provide police access to the phone was because he was concerned about the privacy of a woman who had sent him private photos.

Barbaro’s flatmate, Brodie Mortimer, was also charged for failing to provide the passcode to his mobile phone. He was released on bail.

Mr MaCallum questioned the validity of police raiding Barabro’s home over a social media feud.

“Someone might be so sceptical as to say the reason they execute warrants for these sort of things is just to get a search of the house for other material,” he said.