This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/16/teenager-accused-of-hoax-transmissions-is-obsessed-with-aircraft-court-told
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Teenager accused of hoax transmissions is obsessed with aircraft, court told Teenager accused of hoax transmissions is obsessed with aircraft, court told | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A former baggage handler accused of making hoax transmissions that caused a Virgin flight to abort its landing is a bright young man who has an obsession with aircraft, a court has heard. | A former baggage handler accused of making hoax transmissions that caused a Virgin flight to abort its landing is a bright young man who has an obsession with aircraft, a court has heard. |
| Paul Sant, 19, of Rockbank, is charged over 16 hoax radio transmissions to aircraft and air traffic control between 5 September and 3 November. | Paul Sant, 19, of Rockbank, is charged over 16 hoax radio transmissions to aircraft and air traffic control between 5 September and 3 November. |
| He has been in custody since 21 November and his defence told his bail hearing on Friday that if released he should receive ongoing counselling. | He has been in custody since 21 November and his defence told his bail hearing on Friday that if released he should receive ongoing counselling. |
| But the Melbourne magistrates court heard that if Sant is bailed, the youth justice court advice service was not in a position to supervise him. | But the Melbourne magistrates court heard that if Sant is bailed, the youth justice court advice service was not in a position to supervise him. |
| “It’s quite a unique situation,” a youth justice worker, Gene Bell, told the magistrate, Jelena Popovic. “I don’t think youth justice is in the position to reduce any risk of reoffending.” | “It’s quite a unique situation,” a youth justice worker, Gene Bell, told the magistrate, Jelena Popovic. “I don’t think youth justice is in the position to reduce any risk of reoffending.” |
| The court heard that Sant, who is autistic, is a smart young man with an obsession with aircraft. If bailed, his parents would find it difficult to live with him, owing to his “behavioural issues”. | The court heard that Sant, who is autistic, is a smart young man with an obsession with aircraft. If bailed, his parents would find it difficult to live with him, owing to his “behavioural issues”. |
| Popovic was concerned Sant would lack monitoring if released. “This young man, with proper bail conditions, ought to be released, but there’s just inadequate supervision,” she said. | Popovic was concerned Sant would lack monitoring if released. “This young man, with proper bail conditions, ought to be released, but there’s just inadequate supervision,” she said. |
| Sant is charged with one count of interference likely to endanger safety or cause loss or damage and four counts of endangering the safety of aircraft, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail. | Sant is charged with one count of interference likely to endanger safety or cause loss or damage and four counts of endangering the safety of aircraft, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail. |
| On 27 October he allegedly made a transmission to a Virgin flight making its final approach, telling it to “go around”. The pilot aborted the landing procedure. | On 27 October he allegedly made a transmission to a Virgin flight making its final approach, telling it to “go around”. The pilot aborted the landing procedure. |
| The teenager is said to have given direct instructions to two flights, advising them to either turn around or abort their landing. | The teenager is said to have given direct instructions to two flights, advising them to either turn around or abort their landing. |
| He made mayday transmissions on the national distress frequency, claiming flights had, or were at risk of, crashing into the Maribyrnong river, police allege. | He made mayday transmissions on the national distress frequency, claiming flights had, or were at risk of, crashing into the Maribyrnong river, police allege. |
| Australian federal police have opposed bail, saying the teenager posed a real risk of endangering other aircraft and human life. | Australian federal police have opposed bail, saying the teenager posed a real risk of endangering other aircraft and human life. |
| The commonwealth prosecutor, Kathy Piechutowska, said the case was unique, as the offences Sant faces had never been tried before. | The commonwealth prosecutor, Kathy Piechutowska, said the case was unique, as the offences Sant faces had never been tried before. |
| She said if bailed, Sant should be banned from using any device capable of radio transmissions or frequencies and not be allowed within two kilometres of Melbourne airport. | She said if bailed, Sant should be banned from using any device capable of radio transmissions or frequencies and not be allowed within two kilometres of Melbourne airport. |
| Sant was remanded in custody until his hearing continues on 22 December. | Sant was remanded in custody until his hearing continues on 22 December. |