A 28-year-old Boulder man with links to the Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and the alleged ringleader of an armed hold-up at a Western Australian gold mine is set to fight the charges at trial.
Adam Shaun Ritchie is one of three men charged over the alleged theft of 100 ounces of raw gold ore, a two-tonne safe, a front-end loader, and two four-wheel drive vehicles at the Beta Hunt gold mine near Kambalda.
The items allegedly stolen during the heist on April 24 were worth around $275,500.
Mr Ritchie appeared in the Kalgoorlie Magistrate’s Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to six charges, including aggravated burglary where he was allegedly armed with a firearm.
A charge of criminal damage relating to Mr Ritchie involves allegedly smashing through security boom gates at Beta Hunt.
The underground mine is owned by Canadian company Karora Resources, formerly RNC Minerals.
Beta Hunt is well known for producing some of the highest grade specimens of gold ever found in Australia and was the scene of the rich Father’s Day Vein discovery in 2018.
According to police, the four-wheel drive vehicles were stolen from the site and used to transport the safe and block an access road.
Mr Ritchie’s bail was extended until his next appearance in the District Court on December 2 when his trial date will likely be set.
