QLD: Five arrested over severed ears attack

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2007
QLD: Five arrested over severed ears attack

BRISBANE, Dec 19 AAP - Five men, including four from the same motorcycle gang, have
been charged over the abduction and torture of a Gold Coast man who had both his ears
cut off.

A 38-year-old man was bound with adhesive tape and his ears severed after being abducted
from his Currumbin home on November 3 and taken to nearby Springbrook National Park.

The man was found by picnickers.

Despite the victim's refusal to assist police, detectives from Queensland's motorcycle
gang task force, Hydra, joined with the Australian Crime Commission and NSW police to
investigate the abduction.

A man, 24, was today taken to Coolangatta police station on unrelated matters and was
later charged over the abduction and torture, a Queensland Police spokeswoman said.

A number of search warrants were executed on homes in the northern NSW towns of Tweed
Heads, Pottsville, Kunghur and Tweed West, and at an industrial premise at Currumbin used
as a clubhouse by the Lone Wolves outlaw motorcycle gang.

Officers allegedly found cannabis, ecstasy and a prohibited knife at the Lone Wolves clubhouse.

Three other men, aged 30, 31 and 36, were arrested in Queensland over the attack.

A fifth man, 25, was arrested in NSW.

Four of the men are NSW residents, with one other of no fixed address. Four of the
five are members of the Lone Wolves gang, and a fifth is a nominee of the club, police
said.

All have been charged with torture, kidnapping and grievous bodily harm with intent.

They will soon appear in courts at Southport and NSW, the police spokeswoman said.

Two other men were arrested on unrelated matters during the raids.

A 42-year-old Coombabah man, another member of the gang, was arrested after drugs including
cannabis and ecstasy and a prohibited knife were allegedly found.

A 19-year-old NSW man, a nominee of the club, was charged with possession of human
growth hormone and serious assault.

AAP jrd/mn

KEYWORD: MOTORCYCLE NIGHTLEAD

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