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🇦🇺 Australia /Energy & Infrastructure

Construction worker allegedly threatened by men linked to bikie gang at Brisbane project

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Three Melbourne men linked to the Comancheros bikie gang allegedly threatened a construction worker at a Brisbane government project site.
  • Flight and phone records indicate the men arrived in Brisbane on June 5, 2024, and their phones pinged near the airport around the same time as a security operator.
  • The construction worker, a CFMEU delegate, reported being verbally intimidated and threatened with violence, including his house being burned down and his children harmed.

A commission of inquiry has heard that three Melbourne men, allegedly connected to the Comancheros bikie gang, traveled to Brisbane before one of them reportedly threatened a construction worker at a major government project. Flight and phone records presented to the probe, which is investigating the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and the construction sector, revealed that Bemir Saracevic, Krstomir Bjelogrlic, and Mark Ahern arrived in Brisbane on June 5, 2024.

Do you want me to infer Mr Samuel picked those three men up and drove them to Centenary Bridge site.

— Commissioner Stuart WoodThe commissioner questioning Senior Counsel Assisting Eddy Gisonda about the movements of the accused men.

Senior Counsel Assisting Eddy Gisonda told the inquiry that the trio proceeded to the Centenary Bridge upgrade site. Around 12:30 p.m. that day, a crane operator reported being confronted. Saracevic, known as Benji, is identified as a former national president of the Comancheros, with Bjelogrlic as his business partner, and Ahern as a former gang treasurer.

Gisonda indicated that Gary Samuel, who managed security operator HOST at the site, had been in communication with senior management from contractor BMD and Saracevic throughout the morning. Samuel's phone also registered activity near Brisbane Airport around 11:50 a.m., coinciding with the three men's phones pinging data at the airport. Commissioner Stuart Wood suggested that Samuel may have picked up the men and driven them to the site, a suggestion Gisonda affirmed.

Yes.

— Eddy Gisonda KCSenior Counsel Assisting confirming the commissioner's inference about Gary Samuel picking up the men.

The inquiry heard that BMD had engaged HOST for security due to ongoing disruptions by CFMEU campaigns. The crane operator on June 5, Cody Raymond, a CFMEU delegate, provided a statement detailing the confrontation. He reported being approached by a group of men making aggressive gestures. One man, identified as Saracevic, allegedly questioned Raymond about threatening his associates, referencing an altercation Raymond had with Gary Samuel.

The man in the black shirt stated that I had 'threatened him and called him a goose'.

— Cody RaymondCFMEU delegate Cody Raymond describing the initial confrontation with one of the accused men.

Raymond's statement detailed that Saracevic, identifying himself as "Benji, from the Commos," then issued severe threats. "I'll f***en burn your house down c*** and kill your kids brother … I f***en know where you live brother," Raymond reported Saracevic saying. Raymond stated the incident felt nonsensical to him. BMD General Manager Rob Pickard denied prior knowledge of the incident or that Samuel had informed him of the Melbourne men's visit.

Do you know who the f*** I am…. Benji, from the Commos.

— Bemir SaracevicAlleged threat made by Bemir Saracevic to Cody Raymond.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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