Ironside accused refused bail for alleged arson attack and dealing with more tan $600k in cash

A bikie allegedly wrote he was “on the way to burn the c**t down” as he went to torch a building – only to cause limited damage and have his payment halved.

An alleged member of the Comanchero motorcycle gang was offered $6000 by senior members of the club to torch a Mansfield Park pool hall, a court has heard.

But he and his co-accused were only paid $3500 for the alleged arson attack because it did not cause enough damage.

The man, who is charged as part of Operation Ironside, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday where he applied for bail.

The man is accused of breaking a front window on a pool hall on Grand Junction Rd and pouring or spraying petrol through the window before setting it alight on March 28, 2020.

A second man is charged with arson over the same incident and a third remains unidentified.

The three men are alleged to have been acting on the instruction of two senior members of the Comanchero, who have been charged with inciting or procuring the act of arson.

The fire caused $60,000 in damage the man but his co-accused allegedly sent messages expressing disappointment with the result of the fire.

On the evening before the attack the man is accused of writing a message to one of his co-accused saying “on the way to burn the (c**t) down”.

Images of a Mansfield Park property which was allegedly the target, of an arson attack. Picture: 7News.

Patches and colours seized from the home of an Adelaide member of the Comanchero in 2022

The alleged payment for the attack was reduced from $6000 to $3500 because of the limited damage to the building.

The court heard that the attack had been interrupted by someone who came out of a neighbouring building and started yelling at them.

The man’s name is suppressed as he faces multiple charges as a result of Operation Ironside which centred on the surveillance of the encrypted AN0M app which was covertly being monitored by the FBI and AFP.

A prosecutor told the court the man was also charged with four counts of money laundering relating to “money drops” of more than $600,000.

He was allegedly paid $5000 per drop on behalf of other people.

He is also accused of trafficking 250g of methamphetamine.

The court heard those offences relied on messages from the AN0M app, while the alleged arson had a “physical crime” at its heart.

Jason Evitts, for the man, said his client was unlikely to face trial in the District Court before mid-2024, at which point his client would have been in custody for more than two years.

Mr Evitts argued that his client’s partner was heavily pregnant and would need help raising the child.

Magistrate Roderick Jensen refused the man bail, saying a history of breaching bail and committing acts of violence made him an unsuitable candidate.

Originally published as Ironside accused refused bail for alleged arson attack and dealing with more tan $600k in cash