Thomas Goertz and Jade Siu Ying Ormiston granted bail after allegedly attempting to smuggle Sydney fugitive Hussein Chamas out of Australia
Two tourists who allegedly agreed to smuggle a Sydney fugitive out of the country on a yacht have been granted bail to a Darwin hotel.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Seafaring lovers who allegedly offered to smuggle a Sydney drug lord out of Australia on their yacht have been released on bail.
On Tuesday, Thomas Goertz and Jade Siu Ying Ormiston were granted bail by Judge Sally Ozolins, 22 days after they were arrested in a yacht off the Northern Territory coast.
The couple’s boat was intercepted by Australian Federal Police and Australian Marine Border Command squads near Nhulunbuy on January 26, where they allegedly found Sydney fugitive Hussein Chamas hiding on board.
Mr Chamas vanished from a NSW rehabilitation facility 19 days earlier, after allegedly using fake court documents to fool security to approve his release on January 8.
Mr Chamas was facing charges of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, drug trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm when he vanished.
It is alleged after being smuggled 4200km in a campervan, Mr Chamas was spotted on a beach in Nhulunbuy signalling with a torch to a mystery boat on the water.
Mr Goertz and Ms Ormiston and their illicit third crew member were arrested on their yacht the next day.
On Tuesday, Commonwealth prosecutor Ingrid Ibbett said Mr Goertz was fully aware Mr Chamas was a fugitive facing “very serious criminal charges” and was “knowingly and actively avoiding law enforcement”.
She said Mr Goertz — whose Instagram bio says he is an “adventurer, hedonist, anti-authoritarian” sailor — was communicating with others about the “clandestine” mission.
However defence barrister Brooke Houen said while the case was “inherently of its nature somewhat sensational” there was no evidence Mr Goertz knew the background of the man he allegedly agreed to smuggle out of the country.
The German man and the United Kingdom woman were both on a tourist visa at the time of their arrest, but Ms Houen said the 51-year-old man had a strong support network.
She said his family had provided money to allow him and Ms Ormiston to live in a hotel while his case proceeded.
Ms Houen said while it was likely to end in a plea, her clients may still face significant delays while waiting for the facts to be finalised as people smuggling charges needed the Attorney-General’s consent to proceed.
Ms Ozolins said given the expected plea — to a charge with a maximum 10 year prison term — it was “inevitable” he would spend time behind bars.
But for now she said Mr Goertz and his partner Ms Ormiston would be able to escape the overcrowded cells of the Palmerston watch house and Holtze prison for a Darwin hotel room.
Both Mr Goertz and Ms Ormitson will be under strict bail conditions, including daily check-ins with police, surrendering their passports, a nightly curfew, non-contact orders and electronic monitoring.
Ms Ibbett raised concerns about the “very able sailor” fleeing the law himself, with his bail excluding him from going within 500m of the airport or — critically — moorings or other maritime international departure points.
Their matters were adjourned to April 1 for a preliminary examination mention.
More Coverage
Body of man, 89, found after car washed off NT creek crossing
The body of an 89-year-old man, who was reported missing after his car was found abandoned and washed off a creek crossing, has been found.
Smashed, stolen and written off: Fannie Bay crash mayhem
A local man from the Bulman community has been left stranded after his only mode of transport was stolen and destroyed in a dramatic crash. SEE THE VIDEO.