Shuyan Hong, Zhongfang Zhang and Shuai Sun granted bail after allegations of attempting people smuggling into Australia

A mother and daughter along with another foreign national who have been accused of attempted people smuggling have applied to be released on bail into the community.

Shielding herself form cameras, Zhongfang Zhang, centre, leaves Surry Hills police station. Picture: John Appleyard

A mother and daughter accused of attempted people smuggling by conspiring to collect and conceal a group of unlawful maritime arrivals earlier this year have been granted bail.

Shuyan Hong, 54, and her daughter Zhongfang Zhang, 32, appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday after they were each charged by the Australian Federal Police with conspiracy to conceal non-citizens which carries a maximum 10 year sentence.

Shuai Sun, 26, has also been charged with the same offence. No pleas have been entered.

The AFP allege the trio were linked to an attempted people smuggling venture in early April.

Despite accepting there was a flight risk, Commonwealth prosecutor Suzanne Martinez told the court on Friday she was not opposing bail for Hong and Zhang as she proposed strict bail conditions.

Shuyan Hong leaving Surry Hills police station. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

AFP making an arrest in the alleged conspiracy to collect unlawful maritime arrivals.

She told the court the pair were “lawfully on temporary visas” and had no criminal history in Australia.

Deputy chief magistrate Sharon Freund ultimately granted the mother-daughter duo bail, saying there were bail conditions which could mitigate risks.

It included living in Hurstville, surrendering their passports, not contacting Sun and daily reporting to police.

Sun was also granted bail with similar conditions by Magistrate Daniel Covington with the trio set to return to the same court in October.

AFP commander Melinda Phelan, who heads the Disruption and Deterrence Task Group, said an all-agency approach and co-ordination was necessary to stop people smugglers.

“The Task Force is part of a whole-of-government approach to tackling the unlawful activities of people smugglers who willingly place the lives of others at risk, for their own financial gain,” she said.

“The AFP is warning members of the community to not encourage, or facilitate, unlawful ventures to Australia.

“There are serious penalties for these offences, including significant jail time.”