A 17-year-old teenager, who is part of Apex Gang, was granted bail by Children’s Magistrate today.
This 17-year-old, who cannot be named, has been charged of terrifying armed robberies, car thefts and criminal damage in Melbourne.
The police told the court that these teenage criminals were being rewarded with cash, drugs and lavish hotel stays.
During a bail application hearing in the court, a detective told a Children’s Magistrate that ‘they are rewarded with lavish hotel rooms, and cocaine and ecstasy by Taha.’
Mahmoud Taha is believed to be the mastermind behind two robberies involving $200,000 from two shops on July 7 in Melbourne.
The detective told the court that the boy “seems to be a leader in relation to his African associates, particularly the ones committing motor vehicle thefts and robberies”.
Herald Sun reported that Taha had called on this teenager to gather his “Africans” to commit crimes.
And for committing these crime, Taha was rewarding the young apex gang members.
Police told the court that this 17-year-old boy was paid a “substantial” amount of cash.
Police say the rewards offered to these gang members are linked to a black market network that deals with stolen cars in Melbourne’s southeast.
The detective feared that if the boy was released on bail, he would go back to stealing cars.
“My concern is he’s just going to pick up where he left off,” detective said.
The 17-year-old boy has been granted bail on strict conditions which include no use of mobile phone or social media.
