Media release

COVID-19: Charges – Breach of CHO Directions

Police

Northern Territory Police have charged a man who breached the NT border entry requirements by making a false declaration earlier this week.

On 15 November, the 23-year-old man declared at the Barkly Highway Border Control Point that he had been in Mt Isa for the previous 28 days before entering the NT.

On entering the Territory, the man allegedly stole petrol from service stations at Barkly, Elliott and Katherine before reaching Darwin.

Police were advised of the fuel thefts, and on investigation determined the man had been denied entry into Queensland from New South Wales at the Currumbin Waters checkpoint on 12 November.

Police spoke with the young man’s relatives, and he subsequently handed himself in to police at Casuarina Police Station on 16 November.

Police arranged for his transfer to the Centre for National Resilience at Howard Springs, where he allegedly refused to wear a face mask and declared his intention to leave the facility.

He was arrested and conveyed to the Palmerston Watch House on 17 November, and has since been charged with:

  • Reckless endanger serious harm
  • 2 x Contravene emergency declaration
  • 3 x Stealing

Police bail was refused and he was remanded in custody to Holtze Prison to appear on 26 November after completing his quarantine period in isolation. Queensland authorities have been notified as appropriate.

Incident Controller Sachin Sharma said, “Protecting the Northern Territory community remains our priority, and police will not tolerate any activity that potentially jeopardises the safety of Territorians.

“This man’s behaviour crossed over to the criminal and he has stolen from businesses that were already feeling the impacts of the pandemic, and he will now face the consequences of his actions.”