Taskforce Maxima arrest man after extortion investigation
An alleged Rebels criminal gang participant has been charged after allegedly extorting money and seriously assaulting a Slacks Creek woman.
Taskforce Maxima detectives arrested the 36-year-old Regents Park man yesterday following an operation, codenamed Mike Pregel, into alleged extortion activity by a Rebel CMG participant.
Police will allege a man and a woman from Slacks Creek were targeted by participants after a search warrant was recently executed at a Regents Park property where Rebel CMG membership information was seized.
It will further be alleged the Rebels CMG ‘fined’ the participant who then threatened violence against the Slacks Creek pair if they did not pay him money.
It will also be alleged that during the extortion, the 23-year-old woman was pushed into a brick wall before being repeatedly punched in the head.
A 36-year-old man was charged with two counts of extortion and one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, obstruct police and possession of a drug implement.
He is expected to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court today.
Detective Inspector Brendan Smith of Taskforce Maxima said: “In this matter, a Rebels CMG participant has allegedly seriously assaulted a young woman while demanding money from the pair and threatening further violence.”
“Arresting those responsible for this type of criminal behaviour is exactly what Taskforce Maxima aims to achieve. I am sure all Queenslanders have had enough of these gangs and we will be relentless in our efforts in this regard.”
Taskforce Commander Detective Superintendent Mick Niland said: “The results of this operation demonstrates how the new laws and our ongoing enforcement action is changing things for the better. People now have the confidence to come forward, make complaints, provide information and we continue to see a lot more of it.”
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