Chinese national Mu Fang, 31, charged with people smuggling across Australian borders
After a lengthy investigation by the Australian Federal Police, a Mayfield burger shop owner, and another man, have been charged with alleged involvement in a people smuggling ring.
Newcastle
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A Newcastle burger shop owner has been charged with alleged involvement in a people smuggling ring, accused of being involved in black market labour hire.
Chinese national Mu Fang — the owner of Mega Burgers at Mayfield West — is facing the charge of people smuggling over a two month period from December last year to January.
As the result of a lengthy investigation since January, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) conducted simultaneous raids in the Hunter and Far North Queensland arresting both the 31-year-old from Birmingham Gardens and a man from Mareeba, close to Cairns for their alleged involvement in an international people smuggling venture earlier this year.
They were intercepted by Operation Sovereign Borders en-route to Australia.
Police allege the men were part of a network, where potential illegal immigrants attempting to enter Australia would be told they would have to undertake work for a year without income in “debt bondage”, to repay the criminal syndicate’s costs for their journey.
The pair — who were travelling in a remote area of the Northern Territory in January for what they said was a camping trip — came unstuck when their vehicle became bogged in water crossing and had to send out a distress call.
Investigations into the men led the AFP to believe they were in the area to act as the “shore party” to meet a potential vessel, believed to be carrying illegal maritime arrivals, and to facilitate their onwards journey in Australia. No such vessel reached the Australian mainland.
Mr Fang appeared via video link at Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday — with a chinese interpreter on standby — as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) told the courtroom the 31-year-old was allegedly found with evidence on his computer of six visa applications for people aboard a vessel headed for Australia, a court has heard.
The DPP told the court visa applications were connected with identity information that was found on Mr Fang’s phone and police telephone intercepts allegedly showed he was involved in black market labour hire.
The DPP opposed a bail application saying the offence — which carried a maximum of 20 years if proven — was serious, with a strong case against Mr Fang.
The court the DPP had concerns he was a flight risk and the potential for witness tampering of the six passengers aboard the vessel — who are currently in custody of foreign agencies — that they could be easily influenced because of their difficult circumstances.
Mr Fang also had a child who lived in China, the court heard.
Mr Fang’s solicitor Martin Vasquez said his client had no criminal history and his passport had already been taken by police, although due to COVID-19 it was difficult to leave the country anyways.
But Magistrate David Price agreed the facts looked like a strong case against Mr Fang and felt he may “have a natural desire to travel overseas”.
“It does appear the AFP point to communications by Mr Fang to other alleged participants and that, as a matter of probability, is looking as though he was involved to a reasonable degree,” Magistrate Price said.
“He is in a position where there is a real substantial risk he would flee jurisdiction.”
Mr Fang was refused bail with his matter adjourned until September.