A MOUNT Gambier truck driver who tried to smuggle a woman across the border in his vehicle has been remanded in custody.
Robert Edward White, 46, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court yesterday accused of smuggling a 65-year-old female passenger into South Australia in the back of his truck.
The court heard while White had legitimate reason to cross the border, he allegedly helped Mount Gambier woman Patricia Anne Kohn avoid border checkpoints.
White was arrested Friday and remained in custody over the weekend ahead of yesterday’s appearance, where his lawyer requested a brief adjournment to allow for negotiations with the prosecution for a possible resolution of the charge.
Kohn appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a direction.
Police believed the offence took place sometime on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, arresting Kohn after receiving a report she had re-entered the state.
Magistrate Maria Panagiotidis convicted Kohn of the offence, handing down an 18-day prison sentence that was suspended upon the defendant entering a nine-month good behaviour bond.
She was also ordered to enter a 14-day isolation period at a Mount Gambier address from Friday.
