Monto ‘black flight’ pilots heard in Bundaberg court before April committal

Changes in the case against two pilots who allegedly flew $15 million worth of meth from Papua New Guinea to Queensland can be revealed after the charges returned to a Bundaberg court.

The alleged pilots from the Monto 'black flight' operation had their matters progress through the courts on Tuesday.

The pilot and co-pilot who allegedly flew $15 million worth of methamphetamine from Papua New Guinea to Queensland have had their case progress through the courts.

Bernard Hamilton Alexander, 51, and John Otto Horvath, 54, are both charged with importing or exporting commercial quantities of border-controlled drugs.

Police allege the men flew to PNG to pick up 52 kgs of meth and returned to Queensland flowing at a low alitutde and with their transponder turned off to avoid detection.

They were arrested after landing to refuel at Monto where Australian Federal Police officers were waiting.

Legal teams for the two were in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Lavonda Maloy told the court she was the new lawyer for Mr Alexander who was the alleged chief pilot in the operation.

John Otto Horvath is the alleged co-pilot who, together with Bernard Hamilton Alexander, allegedly flew $15 million worth of methamphetamine from PNG to Monto in Queensland.

She explained her client recently obtained Legal Aid funding, and as a consequence, changed legal representation from Guardian Law to Maloy Law.

Ms Maloy requested an adjournment to allow the transfer of information to be finalised and Mr Alexander’s brief of evidence to be provided to her office.

Appearing via phone, Byron Philp from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to the adjournment.

Magistrate Edwina Rowan adjourned Mr Alexander’s matter to April 16 for a committal hearing mention.

Mr Alexander, who is on remand at Maryborough Correctional Centre, did not appear in court on Tuesday, and Ms Rowan said he did not need to be present at the next hearing.

Immediately following Mr Alexander’s matter, the court heard the charge against his alleged co-pilot, Mr Horvath.

Ms Maloy appeared as town agent for Mr Horvath’s legal representative, Penrith Criminal Law.

The court heard the principal of Penrith Criminal Law had requested an adjournment to allow them to conference with the barrister who would be representing Mr Horvath in a higher court.

Mr Horvath attempted to appear at the hearing on Tuesday but arrived after it was finished.

The conference was needed in order to finalise Mr Horvath’s instructions to his legal team, the court heard.

Ms Rowan also granted an adjournment to April 16 for Mr Horvath’s matter, with his bail extended and Mr Horvath excused from attending the next hearing.

Mr Horvath did arrive at the court on Tuesday but arrived after the hearing had finished and was informed by police prosecutor Andrew Powis that his attendance could not be noted as he had missed it.

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