An Alice Springs man facing charges of grooming children through online messaging services is worried that his mortgage will default while on remand, his legal aid lawyer shared in Darwin local court today.
For legal reasons, the man's name is suppressed from publishing.
The bald prisoner with long scraggily greying hair appeared on an audio/video link from Holtze prison.
During his bail hearing, the commonwealth prosecutor said she had engaged with a constable about the investigation this morning.
Commonwealth prosecutor: "In relation to the Filipino Cupid chat in the [alleged] stated facts, the Australian Federal Police have that material received from Filipino Cupid.
"There were three other accounts of interest that were identified on devices located by police. WhatsApp, [inaudible] and Skype.
"In relation to WhatsApp, I'm advised police have reduced concerns in relation to the access to that kind of domestic account, because it requires access to a phone number
"In relation to [inaudible], some of that material including [inaudible] has been secured by police.
"It's the Skype accounts that remain a concern to the Australian Federal Police.
"There have been a few preliminary investigations with three Skype accounts that have been identified.
"In relation to one of the Skype accounts, some access has been obtained. No access has been obtained to the other two as of yet.
"Your honour, you will note in the [alleged] statement of facts at paragraph 20, there was one image identified as child abuse material. That was found in a folder that indicates it is related to a Skype account.
"So it's those two accounts that are of concern to the police.
The commonwealth crown prosecutor was unable to provide a timetable as to when the AFP might attain access to the two additional accounts.
"I appreciate that bail conditions [inaudible] to restrict internet usage, but in my submission, they can only go so far as to minimise risk."
The legal aid lawyer questioned why his client needed to be kept on remand while the police continued their investigation.
Legal aid: "It needs to be balanced against the affect that [name] has in relation to his access to justice, and his access to legal representation.
"He said he's not had the opportunity to engage with a private lawyer. He hasn't had the opportunity to obtain a phone call.
"My brief submissions your honour, were that he has assets, he works [inaudible] he is a working man. He has a house with a mortgage on it.
"My instructions are that he believes he has enough money in his bank account such that he will start going into default from about next week. Of course the bank won't move straight away.
"It's a situation where effectively he says he has assets. They're not liquid.
"As I've said his birthday is coming up in three days. He has money tied up in super.
"Your honour will appreciate the process that goes with getting that money is quite complex. Much more than just making a phone call.
The judge said the charges were "very serious"
Judge: "There's the access to child pornography. There's also allegations of grooming.
"We'll adjourn it to the 17th December. That gives the federal police time to try and bed this down.
"I would think on that date, his possibility of getting bail is better. If I get a similar statement [of alleged facts] to what I got today, there's a good chance he's getting bail.
"I'm not guaranteeing bail."
We are The Mango Inquirer.
