Queensland woman Jessica Beckett told a WA court she was paid $20,000 to sail a yacht to Indonesia but did not know it was part of a plan to smuggle a fugitive bikie out of the country.
Carnarvon Magistrate Robert Young has denied the 45-year-old woman bail after she was charged with attempted people smuggling on June 3, along with co-accused Cass Williams and Fatma Skaf.
Prosecutor Shaz Naidu said Ms Beckett travelled from New South Wales to Exmouth to be a part of a sophisticated plan to smuggle fugitive Queensland bikie Dylan Cvek to Indonesia.
WA police intercepted a luxury yacht off the coast of Exmouth and subsequently arrested three people. (Supplied: AFP)
Ms Naidu said bail should not be given to Ms Beckett because evidence suggested she was aware she was transporting Mr Cvek.
The prosecution said it had obtained evidence of Ms Beckett discussing smuggling, a safe house and the dumping of a phone in the ocean.
She said it was alleged Ms Beckett also gave Mr Cvek a tour of the yacht and showed him how things worked.
‘Common practice’ for boaties
Defence lawyer Asha Morrow said her client, who has experience on prawn trawlers, thought she was being paid to deliver a yacht to Indonesia and did not believe she was smuggling Mr Cvek.
Ms Morrow said it was common practice in the boating world, and her client was excited to take the opportunity for paid travel expenses and $20,000.
WA Police coordinated an arrest of three people off the coast of Exmouth. (Supplied: AFP)
She said much of the audio obtained by the prosecution was inaudible, and that it was common practice for people in the boating world to tell exaggerated stories at sea.
Ms Beckett requested bail to look after her 69-year-old mother who has stage four metastatic lung cancer.
Ms Morrow said Ms Beckett was the only person able to care for her mother, who resided in Queensland.
Magistrate Young said he recognised it was a difficult time for Ms Beckett’s family, but granting bail would be inappropriate due to the seriousness of the charge.
Ms Beckett and co-accused Cass Willams will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on July 10.
Ms Skaf appeared before Karratha Magistrates Court today for a bail application variation and will also appear in Perth Magistrates Court on July 10.
