ID :
32516
Wed, 11/26/2008 - 15:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/32516
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Mick Gatto arrested and released later
(AAP) - Underworld identity Mick Gatto was arrested but later released after being questioned over an assault at his Melbourne crane business.
The alleged incident occurred in a dispute over money at Elite Cranes in Brooklyn on
Tuesday.
A police spokeswoman said Gatto had been released, pending further inquiries.
Gatto marched out of the Altona North police station in a designer T-shirt and
jeans, looking relaxed and happy after being questioned.
He told reporters he was feeling "beautiful".
Gatto was then driven back to Elite Cranes where he sucked on a big cigar and waved
at the media pack through the fence.
A colleague at Elite Cranes told reporters Gatto "had done nothing wrong".
Police alleged a 33-year-old Williamstown man went to Elite Cranes on Tuesday and
told Gatto he owed him money.
The man was allegedly invited into a back room by Gatto and assaulted, causing
injuries.
Gatto has been well-known in Melbourne since the deadly underworld war that ran for
about a decade from 1995.
He was charged with murder and spent more than a year in prison on remand until
being acquitted over the 2004 shooting death of underworld hitman Andrew Veniamin on
self defence grounds.
Veniamin, 28, a former champion kickboxer, was allegedly acting as Carl Williams'
bodyguard at the time of his fatal meeting with Gatto at La Porcella restaurant in
Carlton.
Gatto also had been questioned by police over the 2002 murder of drug dealer Victor
Peirce but was never charged.
Underworld figure Vince Benvenuto is currently on trial charged with Peirce's murder.
The trial has heard a police informer alleged Benvenuto and Gatto set up Peirce, and
that Veniamin shot him.
Gatto was also questioned over the murder of Benvenuto's brother Frank Benvenuto in
2000.
He has insisted in recent times that he is a law-abiding citizen, and courted the
media earlier this year when he travelled to Singapore in a failed attempt to
recover money from stockbroking firm Opes Prime for shareholders who had hired him.
The alleged incident occurred in a dispute over money at Elite Cranes in Brooklyn on
Tuesday.
A police spokeswoman said Gatto had been released, pending further inquiries.
Gatto marched out of the Altona North police station in a designer T-shirt and
jeans, looking relaxed and happy after being questioned.
He told reporters he was feeling "beautiful".
Gatto was then driven back to Elite Cranes where he sucked on a big cigar and waved
at the media pack through the fence.
A colleague at Elite Cranes told reporters Gatto "had done nothing wrong".
Police alleged a 33-year-old Williamstown man went to Elite Cranes on Tuesday and
told Gatto he owed him money.
The man was allegedly invited into a back room by Gatto and assaulted, causing
injuries.
Gatto has been well-known in Melbourne since the deadly underworld war that ran for
about a decade from 1995.
He was charged with murder and spent more than a year in prison on remand until
being acquitted over the 2004 shooting death of underworld hitman Andrew Veniamin on
self defence grounds.
Veniamin, 28, a former champion kickboxer, was allegedly acting as Carl Williams'
bodyguard at the time of his fatal meeting with Gatto at La Porcella restaurant in
Carlton.
Gatto also had been questioned by police over the 2002 murder of drug dealer Victor
Peirce but was never charged.
Underworld figure Vince Benvenuto is currently on trial charged with Peirce's murder.
The trial has heard a police informer alleged Benvenuto and Gatto set up Peirce, and
that Veniamin shot him.
Gatto was also questioned over the murder of Benvenuto's brother Frank Benvenuto in
2000.
He has insisted in recent times that he is a law-abiding citizen, and courted the
media earlier this year when he travelled to Singapore in a failed attempt to
recover money from stockbroking firm Opes Prime for shareholders who had hired him.
