Ex-Bandidos bikie Shane Lehmann risked bringing WA bikie war to SA during Fringe Festival, court hears

A Perth bikie’s trip to Adelaide for Mad March risked spreading that state’s outlaw gang war here, a court has heard.

A former Western Australian Bandidos outlaw bikie has faced court in Adelaide, accused of associating with other gang members at a top city hotel during Fringe season.

Shane Lindsay Lehman has rejected the allegations, insisting he was in town to see a concert and celebrate his 12th wedding anniversary – and needs to get home to a $100,000 building contract.

Mr Lehman, of Welland in WA, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday following his arrest over the weekend.

He has yet to plead to one count of associating with members of a declared organisation, namely the Mongols Motorcycle Club.

In court, an SA Police prosecutor alleged Mr Lehman was “a former Bandido and current Mongol” who had met with two other Mongols at the Intercontinental Hotel and Adelaide Airport.

A Bandidos member on his bike. Picture: NCA NewsWire

He said the Mongols were “in conflict”, in WA, with the rival Rebels club and that Mr Lehman’s presence in Adelaide risked spreading that conflict here.

Craig Caldicott, for Mr Lehman, said those allegations were not based in fact.

“My client is not, and has never been, a member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club … he has never been to a Mongols clubroom, he has had no involvement,” he said.

“He was, 3 1/2 to four years ago, a member of the Bandidos but walked away from them … he is undergoing laser treatment to remove tattoos and identifying marks from his chest and hand.”

Mr Caldicott said Mr Lehman was in Adelaide with his wife to attend a concert to mark their 12-year wedding anniversary.

He said Mr Lehman had been contacted by a former acquaintance Troy Desmond Mercanti, 56, who was also staying at the hotel, and who wanted to borrow his car to pick a third person up from the airport.

Mr Lehman, he said, declined to provide the car but did take Mr Mercanti to the airport to pick up the third man, Igor Alexandru Oana, 35.

Mr Mercanti, of Western Australia, and Mr Oana, of Queensland, have also been charged with association.

“He doesn’t know the third man, he’s never met him before in his life … it’s a bit hard to have associated with someone you’ve never met and don’t know,” he said.

He asked his client be released on bail, saying both he and his wife had health conditions and imminent medical appointments.

Mr Lehman’s wife could, he said, provide a $10,000 cash guarantee while he could surrender his passport and report to the Rockingham police station upon his return.

“The urgency is that he has a building project on the ground in WA tomorrow and, if he’s not there, he will lose the contract and $100,000,” he said.

David Edwardson KC, for Mr Mercanti and Mr Oana, said his clients were in a similar position.

He conceded both men were members of the Mongols, but insisted they had met up in Adelaide to see the same concert with Mr Mercanti’s mother.

Mr Edwardson said the duo should be bailed under the same conditions proposed for Mr Lehman, saying police would be unable to prove the charges against them.

“What’s deeply concerning is that all three of these men are being held on the suspicion that Mr Lehman is a member of the Mongols and, therefore, an offence has been committed,” he said.

“By law, to commit the offence there have to be three members of a gang in one place with the knowledge that all three are members.

“Neither Mr Mercanti nor Mr Oana had any knowledge of Mr Lehman being a member, Mr Lehman denies being a member, and they would not have met had that been the case.

“Two is allowed, three is not.”

The court released all three men on $10,000 bail, each with a $10,000 guarantor, twice-weekly reporting to police and surrendered passports.

They will face court again in April.