Bikie Shane Bowden taken to hospital, police say lied on border pass
Queensland Health has released an update regarding notorious bikie Shane Bowden, saying he was not infectious on his flight from Melbourne. Bowden is in hospital amid allegations he lied on his border declaration pass to gain entry into Queensland after reportedly contracting coronavirus.
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A NOTORIOUS bikie who was infected with coronavirus is the subject of a “serious” criminal investigation after he left a Melbourne hospital with a gunshot wound and flew into Queensland.
Shane Scott Bowden, one of the country’s most notorious outlaws and a member of the infamous Finks “terror team”, has spent nearly all of the past 20 years in prison.
And now he is accused of lying on his border declaration pass to get into Queensland less than two weeks after testing positive to COVID-19 in Melbourne.
Former Mongols bikie Shane Bowden caught in Qld border breach after entering from Victoria
The suburbs where Queensland’s covid-cases live
The former Fink and Mongol, described by his former girlfriend as a “wild man”, was yesterday returned to hospital in the back of an ambulance with a badly infected gunshot wound to his leg.
All 84 passengers on board his flight – the Monday morning JQ560 from Melbourne - are in hotel quarantine.
It emerged late last night that Queensland Health no longer believed he was still carrying the virus while on the flight.
The Courier-Mail understands Bowden tested positive on August 22.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said a “serious” criminal investigation was underway into Bowden’s actions.
He said initial investigations had indicated he was COVID positive while in Victoria.
“And it would appear (he) has provided untrue information in relation to the border declaration pass.”
Bowden’s on-again, off-again girlfriend of three decades, Trudi McPhee, said he fled hospital in Melbourne after becoming convinced people were after him.
Bowden was only recently released from a Victorian prison after serving five years for a violent home invasion.
A Victorian court was told Bowden broke into a South Yarra home dressed in camouflage clothing and wearing night vision goggles – but drove his accomplice’s car with personalised plates to his victim’s street.
He was released from prison in June and was collected from the gates by his bikie mates and a waiting stretch limousine.
Two weeks later he was injured in a drive-by shooting, landing him in hospital.
“He was very happy to get out of jail,” Ms McPhee said.
“He promised this time he was going to do it right, but the temptation got the better of him.
“It is sad but if you want to play those games and do stupid things, that is what you get.
“He should’ve stayed out of trouble.
“He lived for the Mongols. Whatever happened – why he got kicked out – it is not my business. But when things like this keep happening, it is my opinion it is time to hang up your boots and find something else to do.”
Ms McPhee said Bowden tested positive for coronavirus after being admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound.
She said he was “scared” and “not thinking properly” when he checked himself out of hospital.
“He is a pretty wild man,” Ms McPhee said. “He didn’t want to be in Victoria anymore. He checked out of hospital because he was very scared, he was worried people were watching him all the time. I believe he needs help.”
Bowden was a member of the Finks “terror team” when he became involved in the infamous “ballroom blitz” brawl at the Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast in 2006.
Footage played during the 2008 court case showed Forbes and Hudson fighting when Bowden pulled out a gun and shot Hudson in the face and back.
Bowden served seven years for his role in the brawl.
Mr Gollschewski said police had identified the 48-year-old flight passenger as someone “known to police” after he entered hotel quarantine on the Gold Coast.
He said the criminal investigation into his entry into Queensland was being taken “extremely seriously”.
LIFE & TIMES OF SHANE BOWDEN
● Shane Bowden once had aspirations of making Australia’s Olympic team as a cyclist, but he left the sport after “burning out”. He took up bodybuilding and met members of outlaw motorcycle gangs at the gym where he trained.
● Bowden was a member of the Finks “terror team” during the infamous 2006 Gold Coast “ballroom blitz” bikie brawl. He shot high-profile Hells Angel Christopher Wayne Hudson during the melee and served seven years in jail.
● In 2015, Bowden broke into a Melbourne home dressed in camouflage gear, wielding a knife. He believed the occupant owed money to a friend of his who worked as an escort, and bashed and slashed a man. The sentencing judge said the bikie had spent 13 of the past 15 years in jail – then sent him away for another 5.
● Bowden was released from prison in June, 2020, and was met at the gate by his bikie mates and a stretch limousine. Two weeks later he was injured in a drive-by shooting.
He was recently booted from the Mongols.