The alleged president of the Sydney chapter of the Hells Angels has been refused bail in a Sydney court.
Suvat Sarimsaklioglu, 31, appeared in Central Local Court on Thursday charged with possessing a prohibited firearm and participating in a criminal group.
He was arrested a day earlier after police carried out targeted raids across Sydney following shootings linked to an ongoing feud between the Hells Angels and Comancheros.
Sarimsaklioglu was charged after a rifle was discovered in the boot of a cab, spotted by police about 10.40pm on July 1 in Camperdown in Sydney's inner west.
Prosecutor Sergeant Vanessa Rodichaux told the court the seizure of the gun had likely prevented another shooting.
"Over the last three weeks numerous violent offences involving firearms have occurred throughout Sydney, including two Hells Angels members murdered by gunfire," she said.
She asked the court to refuse bail pointing out that Sarimsaklioglu had spent time in prison for possessing guns.
The prosecution had a "strong circumstantial brief", she said.
"The prosecution are extremely concerned in relation to the protection of the community and also the protection of the witness in relation to his matter."
But Sarimsaklioglu's lawyer, Simon Joyner, said his client was not in the cab when it was pulled over and there was no evidence to suggest he had ever been in possession of the gun.
"It is a long stretch to say that he had it, or was in control of it, or orchestrated the movement of the firearm," he told the court.
Mr Joyner conceded there had been recent tension between the warring gangs.
But "that doesn't mean that because there are tensions out there, let's just go for the person at the top... and let's just take that person off the street," he said.
He said his client was a low flight risk as he was married with a young daughter and all his family lived in Sydney. He offered surety of between $200,000 to $300,000.
However Magistrate Les Mabbutt refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offences and the need to protect the community.
He adjourned the matter until August 9.
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