Hells Angels bikies banned from their Ponde stronghold as it’s declared a ‘prescribed premises’ under law
Authorities tried and failed to seize the notorious bikie base at Ponde. Now they’ve switched to Plan B – Hells Angels still own it but can’t go there any more.
SA News
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The Hells Angels’ rural stronghold 100km from Adelaide has been declared a prescribed place, restricting the entry of bikies to their home away from home.
The political manoeuvre is the latest in a series of machinations to try and wrest control of the sprawling property from the bikie gang.
The last attempt to seize the property as a criminal asset failed before the Supreme Court with the DPP withdrawing their application before it could be heard in full.
But in the latest move, the Hells Angels will still be allowed to own Ponde, but no full members or associates of any bikie gang will be allowed to set foot within its boundaries.
The order came into effect on Thursday and involves both Ponde, which is registered as a Cowirra property, and a shed in Burton, only a short distance from a local primary school.
A police spokesman said adding the two properties to the list of other prescribed premises would disrupt organised crime activity.
“Ponde has had a connection with the Hells Angels Outlaw Motor Gang, a Declared Criminal Organisation, for almost 40 years,” he said.
“Ownership of the properties is currently held by participants of the Hells Angels.
“SA Police are aware that events are still held at the property, being both gang-related and paid motorsport events.
“Participants of any Declared Criminal Organisation can no longer enter or be present on the properties. ‘Participants’ includes members and associates.”
The spokesman said the Penner Ave property, in Burton, had been linked to the Finks motorcycle gang since February of this year, but was not owned by anyone with criminal ties.
Any member of an organised crime group entering a prescribed property faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
Ponde has been the jewel in the crown of the SA Hells Angels chapter for decades. It was the site of a long-running and popular music festival which saw rock stars, punters and bikies all mix together.
The property also has a racetrack with professional lighting for motorcycle races and a skid pane for burnouts.
The property was raided by police in September 2019 as part of an ongoing investigation into the bashing murder of Mark Boyce near his Hill St, Elizabeth South, home in January 2017.
Police also found the burnt out remains of a vehicle they believe was the getaway car used in the murder of Mr Boyce.
It led to a bid to have the property seized as an instrument of crime.
The Director of Public Prosecutions filed an application in the Supreme Court for the seizure of the property but later withdrew the application.
The bikie club was later awarded legal costs – meaning taxpayers had to foot the bill for a significant portion of the failed case.
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