Four men accused of conspiring to lure a member of their own outlaw motorcycle gang to the North Adelaide Aquatic Centre to then seriously assault him with weapons have been remanded in custody.
A 33-year-old man from Salisbury North and a 35-year-old man from Magill — whose identities have been suppressed — faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court along with 23-year-old Domenic Fernando Franze and 43-year-old Goran Mazibrada.
The men, who were arrested this morning as part of Operation Ironside, are charged with conspiracy to cause serious harm between May 2 and May 6 this year.
Police allege the four men are members of the Comancheros Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, as was the intended victim.
The prosecutor told the court the men had communicated openly and frankly on the Anon platform about luring the intended victim to the North Adelaide Aquatic Centre on the pretence they would travel together to another location to assault someone else.
"For the victim to attend without weapons, understanding of course that the victim was attending thinking he and others would be going to assault another individual," the prosecutor told the court.
"He didn't want it to end up as a sword fight.
"It was a plot that was foiled after police approached the victim and informed him of the threat against his person.
The court heard the intended victim had not provided a statement to police.
Mr Franze and Mr Mazibrada made an application for bail which will return to court next week.
The other two men have been remanded in custody to face court in February.
The arrests were made after reviews of material on the encrypted AN0M app used in Operation Ironside, with authorities intending to use messages found as part of the evidence to support the charges laid against the men.
Earlier today, SAPOL's Drug and Organised Crime Taskforce officer in charge, Detective Chief Inspector Darren Fielke said he expected further arrests as part of Operation Ironside.
"As the [Ironside] taskforce continues to review the AN0M material we would expect a number of additional arrests to occur in the coming months," he said.
"The offending alleged against the four men arrested today was to be committed against one of their own.
"I would strongly suggest those who are contemplating a gang lifestyle to reconsider their choices."
Six alleged bikies arrested over attending public places
Meanwhile, SAPOL's Crime Gangs Task Force has also arrested and charged six other men associated with the Comanchero and Nomads OMCGs for criminal association.
It will be alleged that three members of the Nomads attended a licensed premises on Rankine Street, Strathalbyn on Saturday, June 12, and three Comanchero members attended a licensed premises at Cardigan Street, Angle Park, on Sunday, August 15.
In a statement, SAPOL said it was an offence for two or more participants of a declared criminal organisation to be present in a public place — an offence that carries a mandatory custodial sentence.
The men were arrested in the past two weeks, on dates ranging from August 25 to September 2.
A 33-year-old from Strathalbyn, a 33-year-old from Christies Beach and a 38-year-old from Christies Beach were arrested at Strathalbyn.
All three were bailed to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on September 16.
A 28-year-old from Andrews Farm and a 29-year-old from Glandore were arrested at Angle Park, and were both bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on October 25.
A 35-year-old from Kilkenny was also arrested at Angle Park and was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on October 13.
"While this investigation is not directly related to Operation Ironside, it does demonstrate SAPOL's commitment to ensuring that members of the Nomads and Comanchero OMCGs, and indeed all OMCGs, are prevented from engaging in criminal behaviour," Detective Chief Inspector David Scutchings said.
