Prisoner Matej Vanko to face Supreme Court trial over alleged 2020 Holtze prison riot

A Territory prisoner will face a Supreme Court trial for allegedly setting fire to Darwin Correctional Centre, four years after a riot caused $30m in damage.

Darwin Correctional Precinct. Picture: Che Chorley

A long-term inmate is accused of being among 20 people who rioted at Holtze prison in 2020, setting fires and causing $30m in damage over five-hours of unrest.

Legal representatives for Matej Hoi Tsing Vanko appeared in the Supreme Court in Darwin on Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing, four years after the notorious riot.

Vanko was six years into his 23-year non-parole period when it was alleged that he took part in the 2020 Darwin Correctional Centre riots which saw prisoners escaping their cells, climbing on the roof and lighting fires.

Matej 'Matt' Vanko.

It was alleged that some of the prisoners ran towards the women’s section of the prison, others smashed their accommodation block windows, while nine entered the guard complex and set fires which quickly spread throughout the building.

The five-hour riot caused $30m in damage — an average of $100,000 of damage created per minute.

Four years later, Vanko is due to face a 14-day Supreme Court trial over one count of property damage, and two counts of arson.

Emergency service vehicles arrived at Darwin Correctional Precinct after a prisoners were reported on the roof of Darwin jail. Picture: Che Chorley

Despite the lengthy delay, his defence barrister Luke Officer asked the court on Wednesday for more time to prepare for the upcoming trial.

Mr Officer said his client was previously represented by Julie Franz, who has since been promoted to an acting Local Court Judge, and asked for up to four weeks to confirm Vanko’s legal aid funding.

Mr Officer indicated that the case may not need all 14 days set down from May 7, and the trial may wrap up earlier than anticipated.

Acting Justice Meredith Huntingford adjourned the hearing to March 13.