John-Jon Pok: Bail variation application withdrawn as judge grills lawyers

A judge has grilled both defence and prosecution over a proposed bail variation for a man facing grooming charges. Read what she had to say here.

John-Jon Pok leaving the Southport courthouse.

A judge has grilled both defence and prosecution over a proposed bail variation for a man facing grooming charges.

John-Jon Pok, 27, was one of three men nabbed by an undercover police sting and charged with grooming a parent or carer of a child under 16 years to facilitate the procurement of the child to engage in a sexual act.

The Papua New Guinea citizen appeared in the Southport District Court for an application to vary his bail on Tuesday, April 15.

His defence solicitor Matthew McCarthy from Creevey Horrell Lawyers was expected to make an application that would allow Pok to visit Papua New Guinea while on bail.

The court heard that the application was not opposed by the Crown prosecution.

Judge Deborah Holliday KC questioned why the Crown had not opposed a bail variation application. Picture supplied.

Judge Deborah Holliday KC told both Mr McCarthy and the prosecution that while the application might not be opposed, she would have to consider if there was an unacceptable risk of Pok failing to appear.

“No one had told me what ties he has to Australia, if any, and how this court can be assured that if I let someone return to Papua New Guinea, he’s going to turn back up,” she said.

When the matter appeared in court later that day, the application was withdrawn.

Mr McCarthy said he planned to obtain further material to address the court’s concerns over the proposed variation.

Judge Holliday said it seemed Pok had no ties to Australia and there were no assurances that he would return.

“I have no idea why the Crown would not be opposing on the basis of this material,” she said. “What sort of undertaking has the Crown sought from the defendant to return to Australia? In circumstances where he is an illegal non-citizen presently, are you just hoping he will return for his trial?”

The matter was rescheduled to appear on May 1.