‘Stolen’ goods a problem
A MAN facing fraud charges in the Cairns Magistrates Court has allegedly breached a suspended jail sentence for fraud.
The Cairns District Court was told that March Paul Hunt had been sentenced in August 2015 on a number of fraud offences.
“It was coupled, it seems, with a probation order,” Judge Dean Morzone said.
The court was told that the breach was in relation to failing to report in relation to those orders.
Hunt is being held at the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre after he was remanded in custody last month.
The court was told that Hunt had other matters before the magistrates court that were adjourned until next month for mention.
He is facing three counts of fraud over crimes allegedly committed between July last year and March this year and one count of failing to appear in accordance with an undertaking.
“It was stolen items that had been bought up from interstate into Queensland, allegedly, but I didn’t know they were stolen,” Hunt told the court.
“They were going to give me bail but I was wanting this matter to be resolved before I (made) a bail application.”
The Cairns Post previously reported that Hunt did not make a bail application when he was before the court in late April. Hunt said he was legally represented but had been unable to make contact with his lawyer. Matters were adjourned until next week for sentence.
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A STUBBORN crocodile has kicked up a stink by making itself at home at a Far Northern sewage works.
A large saltwater croc has taken up residence in a pond at the Port Douglas wastewater treatment plant and has remained there for months.
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said the council would let the Queensland Department of Environment and Science determine whether the reptile was a problem animal and what appropriate action should be undertaken.
She encouraged the public to report croc sightings to the department.
“Public education and awareness about crocodiles is absolutely vital to reduce the risk that crocodiles pose,” she said. “Reporting sightings is a sensible croc-wise strategy that can reduce the likelihood of a crocodile attack.”
It is not the first time crocodiles have been spotted at the waste treatment plant. A small croc was spotted there in September 2016. In early 2017, rangers attempted to catch a saltwater crocodile that was spotted at the Mareeba wastewater treatment plant.