The man was to face the ACT Magistrates Court today. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A 22-year-old Franklin man police believe is a member of the Hells Angels criminal motorcycle gang has been charged over alleged secret phone messages.
Police arrested the man yesterday after executing search warrants at his home earlier this month.
Investigators from ACT Policing’s Organised Crime team and AFP Specialist Operations attended the home in Franklin on 13 October and searched the premises and two vehicles.
They seized a mobile phone and the man was required to provide passwords under an order issued by a magistrate but he refused.
Examination of the phone found the use of an encrypted messaging application, to which the man refused to give police access.
Police allege that he breached what is known as a 3LA order.
This requires a person to provide any information or assistance that is reasonable and necessary to allow police to access data, including account based data, held in or accessible from a computer or data storage device found on the premises where a search warrant is being executed.
The man was also found to be in breach of an existing Intensive Corrections Order issued in NSW in 2022.
He was due to face the ACT Magistrates Court today.
Detective Inspector Mark Steel said ACT Policing was continuing to target anyone who associates with criminal gangs in the ACT and the surrounding district.
“We will continue our pursuit of criminal motorcycle gang members,” said Detective Inspector Steel.
“Our dedicated investigators will use all lawful means to make the ACT a hostile environment for gang members.”
Anyone with any information about criminal motorcycle gang activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.
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