Claims woman helped son flee

JANESSA EKERT EXTRA details of the extreme lengths a mother allegedly took to help her millionaire Mackay son skip the country the month before his Supreme Court trial for cocaine smuggling have been revealed.

The daring plot alleged by police in bail objection documents tendered in Mackay Magistrates Court – viewed by News Corp – include cash withdrawals totalling $87,845, a prepaid phone registered to a dead man, fake aliases and a yacht named Shangri La.

Mackay businessman Markis Scott Turner last reported for bail about 6.30pm on August 14, 2015. He then disappeared until his arrest two years later.

His mother Elizabeth Anne Turner told police and swore to the court that she believed he had taken his own life.

But Australian Federal Police allege the dedicated mother was instrumental in helping her son abscond from Australia to avoid his September 2015 trial over allegations he was a major player in a drug smuggling ring.

After Mr Turner’s arrest in May 2011, his mother signed a $450,000 surety, which was ultimately forfeited after the alleged smuggler failed to show up for court.

Police allege two months after his case was committed to the Supreme Court, Mr Turner – using the alias “Matt” – contacted the owner of a yacht named Shangri La and asked about buying the boat for his parents.

Bail documents claim that Mr Turner had already changed the name of his company from Markis Turner Investments Pty Ltd to Rural Trade Services Pty Ltd and his mother replaced him as director and secretary.

On July 17, 2013, police allege that Mr Turner and his mother went to Cairns and bought the Shangri La for $62,000 in cash and a $13 bank cheque linked to Ms Turner’s Commonwealth Bank account and ownership was transferred to Rural Trade Services.

Mr Turner failed to report for bail on August 21. Police allege he sailed from Australia on the yacht with another man, who had arrived in Australia in June, sometime between August and November.