UPDATE
Ex-Comancheros boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi was assassinated outside his Sydney gym for a “financial motive”, police say.
“The motive was financial rather than a typical dispute between outlaw motorcycle gangs,” assistant commissioner Mal Lanyon said on Saturday morning, following the arrest of two members of the Lone Wolf bikie gang and an associate of the gang for Mr Hawi’s murder.
Yusuf Nazlioglu and Ahmad Doudar were arrested on Friday, mid-haircut, at a Bexley barber shop. Both were charged with murder, and Mr Doudar cried when he was arrested.
Later that evening, Moustafa Salami was arrested during a dinner at a Balmain restaurant, and was later charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
Mr Nazlioglu and Mr Doudar faced Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday morning. Neither of the men applied for bail, which was formally refused.
Police will allege that Mr Doudar masterminded the daylight assassination at the popular Rockdale Fitness First, and that Mr Nazlioglu fired the fatal shot.
After making the arrests on Friday, police raided the two Lone Wolves' unit in Macquarie Street's famous The Toaster building, the same complex where broadcaster Alan Jones lives, and one at Brighton Le Sands, and seized “items relevant to the investigation.”
It is expected that more arrests will be made.
Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon said that the debt that Mr Hawi was allegedly murdered for related to the construction industry, but would not confirm it was relevant to Mr Hawi’s scaffolding business.
“There was significant planning. Planning went into the physical movements. We certainly believe a lot of planning went into where Mr Hawi would be,” he said.
None of the men that were arrested on Friday attended Mr Hawi’s heavily policed funeral earlier this year.
EARLIER
Two members of the Lone Wolf outlaw motorcycle gang and an associate have been charged over their alleged roles in the shooting murder of Mahmoud ‘Mick’ Hawi.
Strike force detectives arrested two men as they left a barber Shop at Bexley about 4.15pm on Friday and took them to St George Police Station.
“Shortly after the arrests, investigators executed two search warrants at home units on Macquarie Street, Sydney, where they seized items relevant to the investigation,” a police spokesman said.
“The 37-year-old man, who is a member of the Lone Wolf outlaw motor cycle gang (OMCG), was charged with murder.
“Police will allege in court that the man shot Mr Hawi.
“The 38-year-old man, who is also a member of the Lone Wolf OMCG, has been charged with murder.
“Police will allege in court that the man planned and coordinated the shooting.
“Just after 8pm, strike force investigators arrested a 36-year-old Brighton Le Sands man at Balmain.
“He was taken to St George Police Station and charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
“A short time later, a search warrant was executed at a home unit at Brighton-Le-Sands, where they seized items relevant to the investigation.
“All three men have been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court later today (Saturday).
”Investigations are continuing.”
Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi, 37, was shot by an unknown man as he got into his car outside a gym on West Botany Street, Rockdale, about midday on Thursday, February 15 this year
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition, where he later died.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad established Strike Force Amirs to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.