An alleged Hells Angels kingpin accused of fleeing Australia for Thailand on a private jet is a former Sydney boxing champion whose mentor was kneecapped in the infamous ‘chk-chk-boom’ shooting at Kings Cross.
Rodrigo Elices, 31 – also known as Rory or Roscoe – was arrested by Thai immigration officials last month at a luxury apartment in Bangkok’s trendy center, ThongLor.
They absconded after he allegedly posed as an Italian named Gjini to sneak into the country with a fake passport after landing on a private plane.
But a fingerprint check revealed he was allegedly an Australian gangster at the center of an Australian drug investigation and wanted by police on two outstanding arrest warrants for multiple serious crimes.
Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal he was once a rising amateur boxing champion who won titles with his club, the Warrior Fight Club Boxing Academy 1913.
The boxing club is run by Justin Kallu, who was shot in the kneecaps outside a Kings Cross nightclub in the infamous ‘chk-chk-boom’ shooting in 2009.
Rodrigo Elices, 31 (pictured in 2019 in Thredbo after winning a boxing title) was arrested by Thai immigration officials at a luxury apartment in Bangkok’s hip ThongLor center
His boxing coach was Justin Kallu (pictured right, with Elices in 2019), who was kneecapped in the infamous ‘chk-chk boom’ shooting at Sydney’s Kings Cross in 2009
Eyewitness Clare Werbeloff (pictured) became an internet sensation and briefly a red carpet celebrity after a TV interview when she memorably described the brutal shooting
Eyewitness Clare Werbeloff became an internet sensation and briefly a red carpet celebrity after a TV interview in which she memorably described the brutal shooting.
“There were two people fighting,” the then 19-year-old told reporters. ‘The fatter woman said to the skinny woman, “Oi bro, you slept with my cousin.”
‘And the other said: ‘No man, I didn’t do that, did I?’ and the other says: ‘I’m going to appeal to my completely sick boys, eh.’
“And then pulled a gun and went chk-chk boom!”
Mr Kallu, then 27, was shot twice in the legs but was furious that the witness was becoming more famous than him.
He raged in an email to the media at the time: “I’m just a little angry about being shot and almost losing my life…”
“And there’s a girl in the news who’s becoming popular just because she has no brains.”
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Rodrigo Elices was once a rising amateur boxing champion who won titles with Justin Kallu’s club Warrior Fight Club Boxing Academy 1913
Elices claimed a championship belt when representing the boxing club in 2019, taking the title while wearing his signature scarlet shorts with his name on them (pictured)
Mr Kallu – who is not accused of any wrongdoing – later set up his boxing academy in Smithfield in Sydney’s west, which Elices joined and impressed with his boxing skills.
Mr Kallu, who has a degree in sports management, helped the muscular Elices celebrate his 27th birthday in 2019 with a social media post.
“Love you brother, proud of you and how far you have come,” Kallu said in the post.
“I’ll always be in your corner brother until death!” This is for the brothers from day 1 – welcome to Deathrow! May God bless you always.’
Elices claimed a championship belt while representing the boxing club in 2019, taking the title while wearing his signature scarlet shorts with his name on them.
They carried the club mottos: ‘Defend us in battle’ and ‘All glory to God’. The club t-shirts also feature the slogan: ‘Assyrians will rise’.
Although the alleged biker – with short hair and neatly trimmed facial hair – had a surprisingly clean cut in the images released by the Thai Immigration Bureau, Elices has several large tattoos.
He has FAMIGLIA tattooed on his stomach and what looks like angel wings on his chest, while he also has a Mary Magdelene-esque image inked on his shin.
Elices, also reportedly known as Elias, is believed to have several Japanese art-like images on his upper legs.
Rodrigo Elices was arrested by Thai immigration officials (pictured) who burst into a luxury apartment in Bangkok after allegedly posing as an Italian named Gjini to sneak into the country with a fake passport after landing on a private plane.
Suspected bicycle chief is believed to have been a key player in a Hells Angels drug smuggling network, Thai investigators claim (photo)
Rodrigo Elices is now in custody (pictured) ahead of a trial on the immigration charges in Thailand, before likely undergoing proceedings to deport him back to Australia
The suspected bicycle chief is believed to have been a key player in a Hells Angels drug smuggling network, Thai investigators claim.
They say Australian police have told them he is facing charges for importing 14kg of methamphetamine and is being questioned over a house fire in Kogarah.
The house was set on fire in October 2022, badly burning a 51-year-old man and allegedly uncovering a drug ring after detectives found 5.7kg of cocaine, $15,000 in cash and drug production equipment.
The injured man and two others were charged with drug offenses but Elices is said to have fled the country before Strike Force Raptor detectives could interview him.
He is now in custody ahead of a trial on the immigration charges in Thailand before likely undergoing proceedings to deport him back to Australia.
“NSW Police are aware of the arrest in Thailand of a 31-year-old Australian man,” a police spokesperson said.
Rodrigo Elices’ shorts bore the club mottos: ‘Defend us in battle’ and ‘All glory to God’ (pictured). Club T-shirts also feature the slogan: ‘Assyrians will rise’
Rodrigo Elices has FAMIGLIA tattooed on his stomach and what appears to be angel wings on his chest, while he also has a Mary Magdelene-esque image inked on his shin (pictured)
“Officers from the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad have been working with Australian Federal and Thai authorities for several months to locate the wanted man.
‘The man is currently wanted in NSW on two outstanding warrants: a parole revocation order and an arrest warrant for multiple serious offences.’
The Australian Federal Police declined to comment on the arrest, but the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed its involvement in the Bangkok case.
A DFAT spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian man detained in Thailand.
‘Due to our privacy obligations, we are unable to comment further.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Kallu for comment.
NSW Police and Australian Federal Police declined to comment on the arrest, but the Department of State confirmed they were involved in the Bangkok case