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A sex offender allegedly made one last bid for freedom by hitchhiking on a small yacht sailing towards Papua New Guinea.
Richard Carl Skrinjar traveled on a ship called ‘The Intrusior’ through the Torres Strait before arriving at Daru Island in PNG, 200 kilometers off the coast of Australia, late last month.
It is alleged he had plans to fly to Port Moresby and then to Thailand.
The 53-year-old is accused of breaching strict reporting conditions after failing to notify police of his intention to travel outside Australia.
The alleged escape comes on the heels of a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence handed down in August 2022 for grooming a teenage girl.
Richard Carl Skrinjar, 53, was arrested by PNG authorities at the Fly Motel on Daru Island late last month after attempting to flee the country by boat.
PNG authorities have arrested the Sunshine Coast father at Fly Motel, detaining him in connection with immigration matters.
He was expatriated to Australia after his status as a registered child sex offender was confirmed, and AFP officers arrested the Sunshine Coast dad upon his arrival in Cairns on March 2.
“Effective intelligence sharing between the AFP and Papua New Guinea law enforcement was essential to the successful arrest of a convicted child sex offender,” Acting Superintendent Wendy Rix told AFP. The Cairns Post.
“The AFP is dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and will continue to work with national and international partners to identify and arrest anyone involved in alleged crimes of this type.”
The Sunshine Coast dad hitchhiked across the Torres Strait, before allegedly planning to fly to Port Moresby and then Thailand.
Skrinjar’s escape comes at an opportune time, as his two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence starting in August 2022 is coming to an end.
Skrinjar appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with violating foreign travel restrictions.
There are hopes that the arrest will serve as a warning to anyone else who believes they may escape the law.
“The ABF has increased our border intelligence capability in recent years, working closely with agencies here in Australia and with our partners overseas to build a global information-sharing network on those who would seek to harm our communities,” said the acting commander of the Australian Border Force. of operations Queensland said Scott Butters.
He is scheduled to reappear in court on March 11.
He appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with one count of failing to comply with foreign travel restrictions.