Australia. Rebels bikie jailed after running rivals off road

OFF THE WIRE
A MEMBER of Australia's largest bikie gang has been jailed for five years for running a rival group off the road and bashing them in a revenge attack.
The Brisbane District Court was told Rebels outlaw motorcycle club member Peter Rauhina, 38, was one of six gang members who ran a group of Bandidos members off the road and attacked them as they returned from a picnic lunch at Bribie Island, 65km north-east of Brisbane, on February 25, 2007.
The court was told the police investigation into the incident had been frustrated as a result of the actions of both gangs who maintained a code of silence throughout.
However, Glen Cash said Rauhina, who was a member of the Caboolture chapter of the Rebels, finally admitted his involvement after choosing the welfare of his wife and two young children over that of motorcycle gang.
The court was told the Rebels attack on the Bandidos was a "get square" after they allegedly ran one of their club members -- named only as "Head" -- off the road, leaving him with permanent paralysis in one arm.
Mr Cash said the Rebels lay in wait as the Bandidos completed their lunch, got on their motorcycles and drove from Bribie Island toward Caboolture.
He said the Rebels gang followed the Bandidos along Bribie Island Rd and at Ningi ran them off the road.
The Rebels allegedly attacked members of the Bandidos with baseball bats and axe handles, and a gun was fired at least once during the melee, which was witnessed by some members of the public who locked themselves in their cars.
One Bandido, who fell underneath his bike, sustained a serious ankle fracture and required surgery to insert pins, the court was told.
Mr Cash said four other members of the gang were scheduled to stand trial in the Brisbane District Court in a little over a weeks time to answer charges over their alleged involvement in the attack.
He said the man known as "Head" was also involved and the alleged attack on the Bandidos was so violent he also struck Rauhina -- "using his one good arm."
Rauhina, for his part, today pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily harm and one each of perjury, affray and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
The court was told while Rauhina, the youngest of 12, children, was a passenger in a car driven by his brother, he had urged him to run down Bandidos gang members.
Mr Cash said the perjury related to Rauhina giving false testimony -- to the effect he was not there at the time -- during a closed Crime and Misconduct Commission hearing on October 24, 2007.
Barrister Greg McGuire, for Rauhina, said his client was no longer a member of the Rebels club and was keen to return home to New Zealand.
Mr McGuire said Rauhina told police: "When it comes down it, the club of my family, I choose my family."
Senior Judge Gilbert Trafford-Walker ordered Rahuina's five-year jail term be suspended after he has spent 2 1/2-years in custody.