Arabic version: زوجان يواجهان المحاكمة على خلفية خطة مزعومة لتهريب هارب

According to ABC News, German national Thomas Goertz and his partner, Jade Siu Ying Ormiston, have been committed to stand trial in Darwin on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The pair were arrested on their yacht, the SS Coconuts, in the Arafura Sea on January 26, 2025, alongside fugitive drug trafficker Hussein Chamas. They are alleged to have sailed to Nhulunbuy, met Chamas on a beach and taken him aboard with a plan to travel into international waters.

Darwin Local Court heard that Chamas, who had absconded from a New South Wales rehabilitation facility earlier that month, was allegedly to be taken towards West Papua. Judge David Woodroffe said written submissions indicated there had been a “clandestine meeting with fugitive Chamas” at East Woody Beach.

The judge said an Australian Border Force officer became suspicious after seeing Chamas fishing at the beach without a fishing line. He said transporting Chamas overseas would have obstructed criminal proceedings because Chamas was required not to leave New South Wales or Australia.

Judge Woodroffe also said encrypted messages were evidence that Goertz had been involved in “high-risk activity for high-end gain” since 2023, including alleged extractions of wanted criminals for financial reward. The pair’s bail was extended and they are due to face the NT Supreme Court on September 17.

Chamas was sentenced earlier this month to more than 10 years in jail for drug trafficking charges and trying to flee Australia, and is eligible for release in 2030 with time served. Irish national Stephen Roche has pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice after driving Chamas nearly 5,000 kilometres to Nhulunbuy.