Accused Darwin prison rioters face court charged with property damage, escaping confinement

FIVE of the 21 inmates charged over rioting at Holtze Prison in May have appeared in court charged with damaging property in a riot and escaping lawful confinement.

The Darwin Correctional Centre in Holtze was the scene of rioting in May. Picture: Daniel Hartley-Allen/ News Corp Australia

• 21 men charged over alleged involvement in Darwin prison riot
• Prison riot damage bill estimated to total at least $40m
• Mass Darwin jail breakout: Prisoners ‘weren’t happy for some reason’, says Justice Minister Natasha Fyles
• Ninety corrections officers called in to help with riot, which is now a major police investigation
• 21 prisoners escape cells in mass breakout at Darwin Correctional Centre, during 4-hour standoff

FIVE of the 21 inmates charged over rioting at Holtze Prison in May have appeared in court charged with damaging property in a riot and escaping lawful confinement.

Jermaine Lui, 23, Ernest Mulkatana, 43, Ryan Ponto, 24, Jason Reid, 22 and Bruce Ned Impu, 25, all faced the Darwin Local Court via video link from jail yesterday wearing red maximum security T-shirts.

In asking for Lui’s case to be adjourned until late next month, prosecutor Rebecca Everitt said there was a “large brief” of evidence to be prepared before he could be committed to the Supreme Court and formally requested he be remanded in custody.

Mulkatana was next to face judge Tanya Fong Lim but this time Ms Everitt did not request he be formally remanded after noting he was not due to be released for 13 years in any event.

“Mr Mulkatana’s release date is not until 2033 so it may be that your honour doesn’t need to make a remand order in this matter,” she said.

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When Ponto’s turn came to face the judge, his lawyer James Stuchbery said his release date was in October and he too was formally remanded in custody.

Ms Everitt said there was “no need for remand” in the case of Impu, while Ms Fong Lim also formally remanded Reid in custody.

The men were charged following the disturbance at the prison in May, which resulted in an estimated $40 million repair bill and multiple buildings take significant damage.

The chapel, sacred sorry business building, security offices and control rooms were among the facilities understood to have been damaged on the night.

Corrections staff were able to regain control after several hours and all inmates involved were resecured.

All five men will return to court on August 26 for a preliminary committal mention via video link to the prison.

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The next group of five inmates accused of being involved in the riot were due to face court tomorrow, with another two groups of five to follow next week.

Police have previously said some of the other men are facing charges of arson, assault and threatening to burn or explode.

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