Teen Driver Granted Bail Amid Fears of Gang Retaliation

Authorities took extraordinary steps to ensure the safety of Indika Samarasinghe, 18, after he was granted bail in Sydney, following concerns of a bikie revenge plot. Samarasinghe was accused of losing control of his vehicle and striking several pedestrians, including a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man, in Newcastle on October 3. He was charged with multiple counts of dangerous and negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm.

Following the crash, police were alerted to a potential threat against Samarasinghe, prompting them to quickly move him from Newcastle to Sydney. The exact nature of the alleged threat has not been disclosed, but reports indicated fears of a "hit" orchestrated by outlaw motorcycle gangs. Police reportedly moved Samarasinghe out of Newcastle to protect him from further harm.

Samarasinghe was released on bail under strict conditions, including a nighttime curfew from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the requirement to be accompanied by a parent at all times when outside his home. His mother, Nicola Bambrick, was present when he was released and attempted to shield him from media attention. His father, Sunil Samarasinghe, who is the head of technology at Woolworths Group, lives separately.

Samarasinghe, who graduated from Waverley College last year, was reportedly behind the wheel of a gold 2006 BMW cabriolet at the time of the incident. He was arrested at the scene and taken for mandatory testing. The five-year-old girl and the 67-year-old man critically injured in the crash had their conditions later stabilize to serious but stable.