Mongols national president Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes granted bail and sent back to Queensland

A notorious Queensland bikie has described his three-day holiday in a Territory prison as ‘beautiful’ as he walked free from the courts.

A notorious Queensland bikie has been sent packing out of the Territory, leaving behind a $25,000 bond and a promise to never return outside required court appearances.

Mongols president Nicholas John Forbes, 52, was granted bail by the Supreme Court in Darwin on Friday.

The Gold Coast-based Mongols national president was dramatically arrested at Darwin Airport on Tuesday, in connection to an alleged violent assault of a Hells Angels bikie at a Darwin club eight years ago.

Forbes, known also as ‘The Knife’, was welcomed off his midnight Jetstar flight with a pair of handcuffs by waiting Northern Territory Gangs Taskforce detectives and Australian Federal Police agents.

His arrival into the Territory coincided with the Mongols outlaw motorcycle club’s national run this week.

Mongols national president Nick 'The Knife' walking with his defence barrister Michael Gatenby outside of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Picture: Floss Adams.

The alleged bikie enforcer appeared before Justice John Burns in a brief bail hearing on Friday.

Forbes was charged with aggravated assault and engaging in violent conduct, as well as failure to appear.

Police have alleged Forbes was involved in the assault of a Hells Angels bikie rival at Discovery nightclub in the Darwin CBD in 2014.

Forbes was previously denied bail in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday, however he was granted it on Friday on the strict condition that he immediately leave the Territory.

Justice Burns ordered Forbes to go directly from the court to the airport in the company of his lawyer to catch an afternoon flight back to Brisbane.

Forbes cannot return to the Territory, unless he is required to attend Darwin Local Court.

He has been excused from attending in person at his next hearing on October 31.

Forbes was also barred from contacting more than 50 people identified in a Queensland consorting notice, and was required to hand over a $25,000 surety.

Mongols national president Nick 'The Knife' walking with his defence barrister Michael Gatenby outside of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Picture: Floss Adams.

It comes as more than 150 bikies are expected to roll through the Territory as part of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle club’s national run.

NT Police, interstate and federal officers are on high alert as the bikie gang is expected to reach Darwin by Friday afternoon after leaving Alice Springs on Thursday.

Commander Matthew Hollamby said a heavy police presence was watching the run, and officers would conduct alcohol and drug testing, and roadworthy inspections.

Commander Hollamby said the outlaw motorcycle gang was known to be involved in criminal activity.

“The Northern Territory Police in partnership with the Australian Federal Police and other partners, as part of the National Anti-Gangs Squad, continue to work in collaboration to disrupt and prevent criminal activities of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs,” he said.

But Forbes’s lawyer Michael Gatenby said his client voluntarily surrendered himself to NT Police.

Defence barrister Michael Gatenby speaking about his client, Mongols national president Nick 'The Knife' Forbes, outside of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Picture: Floss Adams

Mr Gatenby said the notorious bikie member wanted to resolve court matters for the sake of his Gold Coast-based family.

“He’s expecting a child and he wants to have nothing hanging over his head,” Mr Gatenby said outside of court.

“He’s obviously pleased that he’s been released back into the community

“I think he knew that the Supreme Court would see through the smokescreen of the police, and would be happy to release him.”

Outside the court Forbes said the police operation against him was “a bit of overkill on the taxpayer’s money”.

“(It’s to) make them look good and me look bad,” Forbes said.

Forbes said his appearance in the Territory was “100 per cent” to clear his conscience before the arrival of his baby in January.

Despite being shipped directly from his flight into the clink, Forbes described his three-day stint in the Territory as “beautiful”.

Originally published as Mongols national president Nick ‘The Knife’ Forbes granted bail and sent back to Queensland