(video) — A man police claim is the national president of the notorious Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang has been arrested over alleged links to a series of shootings on the New South Wales south coast.Michael Clark, 34, faced an extradition hearing in the ACT Magistrates Court today, after police arrested him in the Canberra Hospital carpark yesterday afternoon.Police also pounced on properties in Kambah and Kingston where they seized cars, a handgun, drugs, jewellery and outlaw motorcycle club paraphernalia including patches.
Mr Clark is facing charges in NSW over alleged weapons offences and allegedly directing a criminal group.Police allege he supplied firearms that were used in three shootings in the Batemans Bay area in December last year.NSW Police Superintendent Rob Crithclow said detectives “very quickly ascertained that the offending had been directed and lead by offenders from the Australian Capital Territory”.
Ten people other people are facing 49 charges in New South Wales over the incidents.
Mr Clark’s lawyer told the court he’d been arrested just hours after the birth of his son at the Canberra Hospital.Claiming he’d resigned from his position in the club and has strong ties to the local community, he applied for bail.
But prosecutors claimed Mr Clark has long connections to the Nomads, is now facing up to 15-years behind bars if convicted and had a strong incentive not to appear in the state’s courts.Magistrate Bernadette Boss refused Mr Clark’s release, and ordered he be handed over to NSW police.He’s expected to face court in Goulburn tomorrow morning.
The raids and arrest were part of a joint New South Wales and Australian Federal Police operation.ACT Policing Superintendent Scott Moller said they’d struck a major blow against organised crime.”The influence of his club within the ACT and the broader Australian community has been significantly reduced,” Superintendent Moller said.Investigations are ongoing.
