Alleged cyber criminals Jason Lees and Emily Walker not allowed to access internet while on home detention bail

A couple accused of committing large-scale fraud by stealing the identities of more than 7000 people, then opening fake bank accounts in their names, have failed in a bid to access the internet while on bail.

A couple accused of committing large-scale fraud by stealing more than 7000 identity documents linked to real people, then opening fake bank accounts, have failed in a bid to access the internet while on bail.

Jason Bran Lees, 33, and Emily Jane Walker, 29, are also alleged to have hacked into payroll systems of Australian businesses and diverted funds for their own use.

They are yet to enter pleas to charges including using another’s identification information to commit an offence, using a computer to facilitate commission of an offence and dishonest dealings with documents.

The couple was arrested in February, along with a man in Sydney, and later granted home detention bail on strict conditions.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard on Friday they are accused of diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars, however police have previously alleged the total figure was $11 million.

Lees and Walker asked the court to relax bail conditions that prevent them from accessing the internet or having certain types of phones, and also from having a smart TV in their bedrooms.

Lawyers for both accused said they had not been able to look for work or access online banking because of the restriction.

“We are in a world that requires access to the internet,” said Andy Ey, for Lees.

“We are simply asking he be allowed to use the internet such that he can look for work (and) obtain access to the psychological measures online that are available.”

However, a prosecutor opposing the application, told the court loosening the conditions would pose an unacceptable risk.

“They did all of this (alleged offending) via the internet,” she said.

“Both of them have significant computer skills.”

The court heard the couple set up the “mule accounts” for real people by using stolen personal identification documents, opening email addresses and providing delivery addresses.

Police have found at least 7000 of these documents, including Medicare cards and drivers’ licences.

It is also alleged they hacked payroll systems using a program that changed numbers and effectively diverted funds into accounts they controlled.

The offending is alleged to have taken place over a number of years, however, the court heard about 60 per cent of the known money stolen has now been recovered.

The pair is believed to have used sophisticated set-ups on heavily-encrypted virtual machines and used platforms such as Wickr to communicate.

“It was well-organised, it was long-standing, it was theft … and it involved a lot of victims who didn’t even know they were victims until they were contacted by the police,” the prosecutor said.

Magistrate Jayanthi McGrath acknowledged the conditions on Walker and Lees were onerous, but said she was not prepared to change them.

“I recognise that it’s not easy but these are unique matters and they’re matters that are complex and they’re allegations,” she said.

The couple embraced outside court before parting ways, and neither made any comment to the media.

They will return to court in December.