OFF THE WIRE
BY: YONI BASHAN
southern-courier.whereilive.com.au
Reality show millionaire "shocked" to find Hells Angels clubhouse at his property..
Millionaire Albert Bertini. Picture: Angelo Soulas Source: The Sunday Telegraph
POLICE have quizzed a celebrity millionaire who starred in a Channel Nine reality show after discovering one of his inner-city properties was the headquarters of a chapter of the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang.
Albert Bertini, 49, a rags-to-riches success story who made his fortune importing tiles, told The Sunday Telegraph he was shocked when Strike Force Raptor officers called him as they raided one of his properties.
“I said do whatever you have to do - break the door down if you have to ... I said straight away, get in and get them out,” he said.
The factory - owned by Mr Bertini’s company Trivest Woolstores - was being used as the headquarters of the Hells Angels newly formed Alexandria chapter.
Police identified fire safety breaches at the site during last month’s raid and issued an order to evict the Hells Angels tenants. The clubhouse has been shut down.
The French-born millionaire, who is also friends with Hollywood star Russell Crowe and is responsible for financing major refurbishments to the South Sydney Rabbitohs Football Club, said he was “not aware” a Hells Angels clubhouse was operating inside the property.
In 2009, Mr Bertini appeared on Channel Nine reality show Secret Millionaire, in which wealthy people donate money to community ventures. His taste for flashy cars, motorcycles and antique boats is legendary.
In 2008 Mr Bertini paid $22.5 million for Mosman’s most expensive home - Karawa - on Hopetoun Ave.
He told The Sunday Telegraph he also rented a property to senior Hells Angels figure Wayne Schneider.
Schneider, 32, is defending charges of obstructing Australian Crime Commission examiners. Mr Bertini said he met Schneider and his wife when they approached him with a business offer.
“They were trying to rent a premises for a gym.”
Albert Bertini, 49, a rags-to-riches success story who made his fortune importing tiles, told The Sunday Telegraph he was shocked when Strike Force Raptor officers called him as they raided one of his properties.
“I said do whatever you have to do - break the door down if you have to ... I said straight away, get in and get them out,” he said.
The factory - owned by Mr Bertini’s company Trivest Woolstores - was being used as the headquarters of the Hells Angels newly formed Alexandria chapter.
Police identified fire safety breaches at the site during last month’s raid and issued an order to evict the Hells Angels tenants. The clubhouse has been shut down.
The French-born millionaire, who is also friends with Hollywood star Russell Crowe and is responsible for financing major refurbishments to the South Sydney Rabbitohs Football Club, said he was “not aware” a Hells Angels clubhouse was operating inside the property.
In 2009, Mr Bertini appeared on Channel Nine reality show Secret Millionaire, in which wealthy people donate money to community ventures. His taste for flashy cars, motorcycles and antique boats is legendary.
In 2008 Mr Bertini paid $22.5 million for Mosman’s most expensive home - Karawa - on Hopetoun Ave.
He told The Sunday Telegraph he also rented a property to senior Hells Angels figure Wayne Schneider.
Schneider, 32, is defending charges of obstructing Australian Crime Commission examiners. Mr Bertini said he met Schneider and his wife when they approached him with a business offer.
“They were trying to rent a premises for a gym.”