Accused Chinese people smuggler denied bail in Cairns court

A Sydney-based Chinese national, Hao Wang, has been denied bail after being charged with smuggling Chinese citizens into Australia. Wang was arrested in Weipa, on the western Cape York Peninsula, on June 30, after allegedly being involved with a group of 10 illegal migrants who came ashore at Pennefather River.

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I have an unlawful non-citizen painter who lives in Sydney, who is in Weipa, a very, very long way from home, and you wouldn't Adam-and-Eve it, but the unlawful non-citizens have been found in his hotel room booked by him. That's a remarkable coincidence.

Cairns Magistrates Court heard that Wang had driven a rental car from Cairns to Weipa, a journey of over 800 kilometers. He was arrested by Australian Federal Police and Border Force officers at a shopping center. Shortly after, the 10 migrants were discovered in a hotel room booked by Wang.

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I accept how it appears.

Magistrate Michael Dalton rejected the defense's argument that Wang was on a fishing trip, stating there was no evidence of his interest in the activity and that fishing in Weipa is not for beginners. He also dismissed the defense's claim that WhatsApp messages to an Indonesian number were circumstantial, calling the situation a "remarkable coincidence."

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Weipa is not for people who might be beginning dropping a line in the ocean.

Given Wang's alleged connection to the people-smuggling operation and his status as an unlawful non-citizen, Magistrate Dalton deemed him a flight risk. The Commonwealth prosecutor noted that even if granted bail, the attorney-general would likely intervene to place Wang in immigration detention. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment with a mandatory non-parole period of at least three years. Wang's case is scheduled to return to court on October 1.

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It's entirely unremarkable in my submission that there's a text message to an Indonesian number on the same day. We live in a global world.