Vic: Man hid explosives for Bandido, court told

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2000
Vic: Man hid explosives for Bandido, court told

MELBOURNE, April 12 AAP - A Geelong man hid explosives for a member of the Bandidos
motorcycle gang, a court was told today.

Morgan Andrew Watson, 31, of James Street, Belmont, kept a stash of explosives for
a Bandidos member for a year because he felt pressured to do what he was told, Melbourne
Magistrates Court was told.

Senior Constable Ash Rogers said police went to search his premises as part of an ongoing
operation to search for explosives on March 22 this year.

They then searched a second premises in Reid Street, Meredith, also in Geelong, where
they found detonators, cartridges of blasting explosives and a metal cylinder with wires
attached and ammunition in it.

Watson told police he was minding the items for a friend who was associated with the
Bandidos and that he knew the items he had were explosives.

He said he felt under pressure and that he should hang on to them and do what he was told.

Christine Thomas, defending, said Watson was asked to mind the explosives by a friend
and when he found out the connection with the Bandidos he was not happy, but did what
he was told.

She said that his mental state had deteriorated since his father drowned.

Watson pleaded guilty to possessing explosives without an excuse.

Magistrate Roger Franich convicted and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment,
suspended for two years.

AAP cmc/jlw/lw

KEYWORD: WATSON

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