International business owner Phoong Cam Tai flew in and out of Australia multiple times after alleged altercation left man with broken jaw

An international businessman previously wanted for a decade after allegedly breaking a man’s jaw at a Sydney pub, flew in and out of Australia repeatedly and was ‘surprised’ over his arrest.

Phoong Cam Tai was arrested at Brisbane International Airport last Friday.

An international businessman previously wanted for more than a decade over an alleged pub bust-up that left a man with a broken jaw said he was surprised by his arrest after repeatedly flying in and out of the country.

Phoong Cam Tai appeared at Downing Centre Local Court via video link on Monday where his high-profile lawyer Ahmed Dib successfully applied for his bail.

He is yet to plead to recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm in company.

Court documents detail the alleged offence where Tai was drinking with friends at the former Goldfish Hotel in Kings Cross in November 2012 before he got into a physical altercation with another man on the dance floor.

Police allege he approached the man in an “aggressive manner … without warning” before “swinging his arms around, punching and kicking” him.

The man was allegedly struck to the face by Tai multiple times and the pair fell onto a lounge.

Several bystanders intervened and the man was then allegedly punched in the face by another person.

High profile Lawyer Ahmed Dib argued his client was ‘arrested to his surprise’. Photo: Max Mason-Hubers

Tai allegedly ripped off his t-shirt and enticed bystanders “to fight him” before being ushered away by security and later spotted by police shirtless.

After entering the Goldfish Hotel, police found the man lying unconscious and it was later revealed he required surgery for a lower jaw fracture.

Despite Tai allegedly being taken to Kings Cross police station, officers were unable to view CCTV footage and establish the incident’s circumstances.

Tai and his friends were released pending further enquiries.

After several alleged unsuccessful attempts to locate Tai he was listed as a ‘target’ on the COPS system in 2013.

An arrest warrant was later issued the following year after further alleged attempts.

Phoong Cam Tai was granted bail at Downing Centre Local Court. Photo: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Australian Border Force records indicated Tai had allegedly previously resided in Queensland and between 2008-13 had departed and returned to the country through Sydney.

Police allege after 2013 he only came in and out through Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne and “regularly” travelled and currently resides in Thailand with his wife.

He was handed to Queensland Police and later extradited to Sydney after his arrest last week.

Mr Dib told the court on Monday his client was an international business owner and had “flown in and out of Australia … almost a dozen times” before he was “arrested to his surprise”.

The prosecutor said while Tai had a clean criminal history there was “concern” he could fail to appear.

Mr Dib said his client could receive a non-jail sentence and Magistrate Miranda Moody replied it could “be on the cards”.

He said Tai had a “supportive family” evidenced by his wife and brother flying from Thailand and Brisbane respectively for his bail.

Tai was granted bail and required to surrender his passport while his brother was required to deposit $10,000.

Despite living in Queensland, he must also report to Tweed Heads police station twice weekly and enter a plea on February 26.