Victoria drops blackmail charge against bikie gang leader amid legal loophole concerns

Victoria's Office of Public Prosecutions has abandoned a blackmail prosecution against Bandidos boss Joel Leavitt, after a covert audio capture showed him urging a construction financier to pay a large sum. Police contend the recording and accompanying CCTV footage fail to satisfy the statutory elements of blackmail, especially the need to prove a threat or menace. The move underscores repeated police pleas since 2014 for legislation that would prohibit outlaw bikie figures from serving as union representatives or debt collectors in the building sector.

Leavitt, a former CFMEU Big Build official, previously leveraged union roles to channel lucrative contracts to gang affiliates. While the major charge was dropped, he pleaded guilty to two lesser offences and was fined $2,000. The case is expected to be referred to the Kourakis royal commission, which is reviewing criminal conduct on current construction projects.