Matthew McKenzie, Nicholas Pozzebon, Nathan Dyson refused bail after alleged bashing at Palmview

Police have alleged a man lost half his vision in one eye after he was rammed off the road and bashed by men with links to the Rebels bikie gang over a failed business venture.

(From left to right) Nicholas William Pozzebon, Matthew James McKenzie and Nathan Peter John Dyson faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Three men with alleged ties to the Rebels bikie gang have been refused bail after a man was allegedly rammed off the road and bashed in broad daylight on the Sunshine Coast.

Police allege an investment gone wrong was the catalyst for the brazen attack on the victim who was followed for 25km through holiday traffic before a group bashing left him with a fractured eye socket, nose, wrist and bruising to his torso.

It’s alleged by the Sunshine Coast District Gang Squad that Matthew James McKenzie of Maroochydore, 38, Nathan Peter John Dyson, 30, and Nicholas William Pozzebon, 27, both of Kiels Mountain, played roles in the dangerous caper.

Their alleged involvement was revealed in bail objection documents tendered to Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday where they applied for bail on charges of grievous bodily harm (serious organised crime), operating a vehicle dangerously and endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle with intent.

Court documents state McKenzie splashed $50,000 into an investment business with the alleged victim. Police state the Maroochydore man signed a participation agreement.

McKenzie works as a roofer. Picture: Facebook

Police allege the victim was told by McKenzie in July he wished to remove his investment. The man reminded McKenzie of the agreement however later paid out the investment to the value of $58,000.

Court documents state a month ago, the man allegedly received a group message with McKenzie stating “if money wasn’t returned all bets were off” or words to that effect.

Police say on September 14 the alleged victim was sent a video to his phone from an associate which was a recording of him leaving World Gym at Caloundra.

At the sight of this, the alleged victim changed his routine entirely due to McKenzie’s alleged affiliations with the Rebels.

A few days later on September 18, the man left a gym in Warana in his Mercedes Benz when he believed he was being followed by a Ford Ranger, police allege was driven by Dyson.

The alleged victim continued to drive until he was travelling south on the Bruce Hwy when he saw a Dodge Ram 1500, who police allege was driven by Pozzebon with McKenzie in the passenger seat, join the convoy who tried to get the man to pull over.

Police allege the Ram rammed the alleged victim's car, which caused him to lose control and enter the emergency stopping lane.

It’s alleged the victim left the highway and began driving to the Harmony Estate at Palmview, while the Ram and Ford continued to speed after him.

Pozzebon runs his own diesel mechanic business. Picture: Contributed

Bail objection documents state the Ram then collided with the rear of the man’s car, causing both vehicles to crash through temporary fencing and over an embankment into a field.

Court documents allege the vehicles were allegedly travelling at 120km/h immediately before the crash in the residential street.

Police allege the victim tried to get out of his vehicle however, Pozzebon and Dyson pulled the man from his car and repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on the man.

The alleged victim told police he saw McKenzie standing nearby acting as a “lookout”.

“What’s this about,” the victim allegedly asked.

“You know what this is all about,” one of the trio allegedly replied, according to court documents.

Court documents state the man’s phone was smashed and his Apple watch was taken from him before he was allegedly marched to the Ford before a witness told the group the police had already been called.

Dyson has worked as a concreter in the past. Picture: Facebook

All three men were spoken to by police however the trio were arrested days later and spent almost two weeks on remand at the Maroochydore watch-house.

Court documents allege McKenzie was an “associate” of the Rebels while Pozzebon and Dyson were “patched” members.

Police allege in court documents that the victim was so frightened after the attack he has left his home and went into hiding due to fears of reprisals. He even hired personal security and changed his routines.

Police prosecutor Brendan Newman told the court the man who was allegedly attacked has had several surgeries since the incident and lost half of his vision in one eye.

Sergeant Newman objected to all three men’s applications for bail, alleging it was an “exceptionally” dangerous and violent attack, with the men having “concerning” criminal links.

The police prosecutor said McKenzie’s “failed business venture” with the alleged victim was the catalyst, and allege the 38-year-old “orchestrated” the attack.

Sergeant Newman alleged the debt hadn’t been met and was still owing.

He further alleged the two vehicles were registered to Dyson which suggested it was a “planned” event “with little care or regard for getting caught”.

All three men appeared in court by video on Wednesday. Picture: David Clark

Defence barrister Malcolm Harrison, who acted for all three men during their bail applications on Wednesday, said it was “fundamentally wrong” that the debt was outstanding as the bail objection stated the money was repaid.

Mr Harrison stated there was no evidence what allegedly occurred had anything to do with the Rebels. He further said the alleged victim had a “credibility problem” as he gave separate versions of events.

The barrister said there was no evidence the men had tried to contact the alleged victim in the days before they were arrested.

The court heard the trio had criminal histories but could abide by strict conditions.

The court was further told McKenzie had strong ties to the community, Dyson had a young son and Pozzebon ran his own diesel mechanic business.

Magistrate Rod Madsen refused them all bail and adjourned their matters to December 6.

Originally published as Matthew McKenzie, Nicholas Pozzebon, Nathan Dyson refused bail after alleged bashing at Palmview