WA: Neo-Nazi leader has Australia-wide contacts, court told

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2004
WA: Neo-Nazi leader has Australia-wide contacts, court told

A Perth magistrate is due to decide today whether to grant bail to white supremacist
leader JACK VAN TONGEREN.

VAN TONGEREN's applied for bail after being arrested last week on charges of conspiracy
to commit arson and criminal damage.

West Australian police have told a Perth court VAN TONGEREN's likely to reoffend if
he's given bail.

They say VAN TONGEREN has a wide network of contacts around Australia with whom to
take refuge, and he'd pose a serious flight risk if released.

But his lawyer says VAN TONGEREN is prepared to submit to strict bail conditions and
had been preparing to surrender to police when he learned they were looking for him.

Magistrate PAMELA HOGAN said yesterday she wanted time to consider the submissions
-- and she's expected to hand down her findings today.

The neo-Nazi leader of the Australian Nationalist Movement appeared via a video-link
from Perth's Hakea Prison where he's being held in an isolation wing.

AAP RTV tgr/tc/gjr/rp

KEYWORD: VANTONGEREN (PERTH)

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