A 26-year-old sailor has been remanded in custody on charges stemming from the robbery of weapons from a navy patrol boat in Darwin late last month.
Leading Seaman Matthew Evans appeared in Darwin Magistrates Court on Friday charged with aggravated robbery and two counts of possessing prohibited firearms.
No pleas were taken and he was remanded in custody to appear in court again in February. A dozen handguns and two pump-action shotguns were stolen from the armoury of navy patrol boat HMAS Bathurst in the early hours of November 30 while it was moored at HMAS Coonawarra.
During the robbery, a duty sailor aboard the vessel was overpowered, assaulted and then restrained with cable ties.
Evans is the second person to be arrested. Northern Territory police raided an apartment in the city the next day, recovering all the weapons and arresting a 40-year-old man who was charged with receiving stolen property and possessing firearms without a licence.
More arrests were expected, NT police commander Richard Bryson said. "This an ongoing investigation," he told reporters.
"Police and detectives from the Crime Command will be expected to make a number of additional arrests in coming days."
Commander Bryson said it would be alleged that those being sought were co-conspirators plus accessories to the robbery and theft. Navy chief Vice Admiral Ray Griggs said the navy did not tolerate any form of criminal behaviour.
"I am pleased that we have seen further progress on this case following the early success of the NT police when they arrested a man for possession of the weapons," he said in a statement. "Navy will continue to assist in any way possible with the investigation."
In accordance with normal Defence procedures, administrative action has been initiated.
Share
