Tougher sentences for bikies

OUTLAW motorcycle gang members would face longer prison terms if they refuse to answer questions before the Australian Crime Commission, in an effort to encourage them to dob in their bikie mates.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison has told The Australian newspaper he intends to look closely at increasing penalties after members of a Northern Territory bikie gang flouted the commission's coercive powers last year.

The bikies preferred to risk five years in jail rather than divulge information to the commission, the paper said.

Senator Ellison indicated he would pre-empt the findings of a parliamentary committee review of the commission by introducing longer jail sentences to deter bikies from sticking to their code of secrecy.

"One of the things likely to come out of the review is to increase the penalty, and believe me, I'd look at that closely," he said.

Newshawk: Empower Activists http://www.napnt.org/donate.html
Pubdate: Wed, 21 Sep 2005
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 The Australian
Contact: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/files/aus_letters.htm
Website: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/35