Bail for senior bikie facing extortion charges

A SENIOR Bandidos bikie who allegedly tried to extort another Sunshine Coast member who had quit the outlawed motorcycle club has been released on bail.

A SENIOR Bandidos bikie who allegedly tried to extort another Sunshine Coast member who had quit the outlawed motorcycle club has been released on bail.

Ricky Wayne McDougall, 34, of Narangba, was charged last month, along with two others, with extortion and stealing following a Task Force Maxima raid.

It is alleged McDougall and his two associates, on the orders of the club's president, used intimidation tactics towards the former member in a bid to get him to hand over his new $24,000 Harley Davidson.

The Brisbane Supreme Court was told on Wednesday, during McDougall's bail application hearing, that the evidence against him surrounding the extortion charge was particularly weak.

Defence barrister Anthony Glynn told the court that there was a real possibility McDougall could spent a serious amount of time behind bars before his matter is brought before the courts.

"The charges against him are weak . . . especially in relation to the extortion offence," he said.

"There is no evidence to suggest McDougall was even present for any of the alleged threats made against the victim."

Crown prosecutor Vicki Lowry said she was not prepared to concede the case against McDougall was weak.

But she said it was difficult to assess the strength of the Crown's case at present.

Justice Peter Applegarth, in granting McDougall's application, said that despite the fact he was in a show cause position, given his association with the criminal gang, he was satisfied his continued incarceration was not justified.

One of McDougall's alleged co-offenders, Blair Raymond Thomsen, 41, of Beerwah, was due to have his bail application heard as well on Wednesday, but it was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

- APN NEWSDESK.