Photo: Courier Mail

A week ago we brought you the story of how over $2.5M worth of LS-series engines and other parts have gone missing from the GM/Holden plant in Elizabeth, Australia. For months, thieves had been making off with engines and other miscellaneous parts out of the facility. We heard reports of a few leads, and that it was possibly an inside job, however, no one was charged and there weren’t any definite suspects.

Yesterday evening, however, we received word via the Courier Mail about someone getting slapped with charges of money laundering in relation with the Holden plant heist. Now Qeensland-based, Irish stunt driver/drift champion Gerald Bolger seems to have something to do with the 180 (!) engines and other parts that have gone missing. The engines typically retail for just over $10,000 (AUS) through Holden dealers, while the stolen examples were being unloaded for the bargain price of $1500-2000 a piece to black-market buyers.

Unfortunately, they’ve all been traced back to “off-road” motorsports; namely drifting and drag racing -leaving the ones who have purchased one of these hot motors up for potential theft charges themselves.

Police issued a warrant for the self-proclaimed “Godfather” of motorsport entertainment in Australia last week. Bolger has already appeared in court on the charges, and he has been released for an undisclosed bail amount at the Brisbane court. He still faces charges in South Australia for suspicion of money laundering between January 1st, 2010-December 31st, 2011.

Looks like some folks are about to get their hands caught in the cookie jar.