Taiwanese national accused of people smuggling granted bail in Far North Qld

CCTV footage shows two men ordering from Weipa bakery. (Supplied: Weipa bakery) Accused people smugglers Chien-Wen Peng, 34, and Hao Wang, 30, have faced Cairns Magistrates Court after being arrested in Weipa in Far North Queensland this week. A group was deported after coming ashore at a remote beach on Cape York Peninsula early on Tuesday. Mr Peng, a Sydney painter, has been released on bail, while Mr Wang has not yet made an application for release. Link copiedShareShare articleA self-employed Sydney painter accused of smuggling foreign nationals into Far North Queensland by boat this week has told his lawyer he was "in that area to go fishing", a court has heard. Chien-Wen Peng, 34, made a successful bid for release when he appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday morning. It's alleged a group of people without visas came ashore at Pennefather River, about 80 kilometres north of Weipa on western Cape York Peninsula, on Tuesday morning. Mr Peng and co-accused Hao Wang, 30, were arrested at a shopping centre car park in Weipa that afternoon. Both have been charged with an aggravated people smuggling offence allegedly involving more than five people. On Friday, Commonwealth prosecutor Christopher Moore told the court Mr Peng, a Taiwanese national, hired a car in Cairns and travelled to Weipa. Mr Moore said Mr Peng stayed at a hotel in Weipa that was booked under Mr Wang's name. However, Mr Peng's lawyer Rowan King told the court he had spoken with a police officer "who confirmed that my client's vehicle had fishing rods and fishing equipment in it". "His instructions are that he was in that area to go fishing," Mr King told the court. Hao Wang, 30 (left) and Chien-Wen Peng, 34, sat together in the courtroom dock. (ABC News: Paula Broughton) Mr Moore opposed Mr Peng's release on bail over concerns he would leave the country or interfere with witnesses. "There's concerns from police that he may continue people smuggling ventures into Australia," Mr Moore told the court. However, Mr King argued bail conditions could address any concerns police had that Mr Peng would leave Australia. Mr Peng has a wife in Australia and lived at Berala in Sydney's inner-west about 3 kilometres from the nearest police station, the court heard. Chien-Wen Peng, 34, has been granted bail on a charge of aggravated people smuggling. (ABC News: Paula Broughton) Mr King suggested Mr Peng be released with a condition not to contact his co-accused, Mr Wang. "The people that have … been deported are also the other witnesses that could be interfered with and they are no longer in the country," he told the court. Mr Peng moved to Australia in 2011 and was in the process of finalising his application for Australian citizenship with a test booked in for later this month, the court heard. The court heard Mr Peng's business had an active social media page, with photographs of him painting available online. Mr King said it was the first time Mr Peng had been before any court. Acting Magistrate Raimund Heggie granted bail, saying Mr Peng had "strong ties to the community in which he resides" and did not present as a risk of failing to appear in court or a danger to the community. "There's nothing before me to suggest that it's necessary for his own protection that he remain in custody," Magistrate Heggie said. Mr Peng is required to report to police, cannot leave his Berala home between 10pm and 5am, must surrender any current passport to authorities, and cannot contact any witnesses or co-accused Mr Wang. Hao Wang, 30, appeared in court but did not apply for bail. (ABC News: Paula Broughton) Mr Wang also appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court with the help of an interpreter but did not apply for bail. Amelia Doolan, a Legal Aid lawyer appearing for Mr Wang, said he had engaged a private lawyer to represent him. The court heard Mr Wang may make a bail application on July 16, with both men's cases otherwise adjourned for a review hearing in October. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars and a mandatory minimum non-parole period. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)See more ABC coverage in your search results Top StoriesSuspected bird flu cases detected in NSW and WA after devastating impact overseasTopic:Avian Influenza

Taiwanese national accused of people smuggling granted bail in Far North Qld

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