Richard Carl Skrinjar: Sex offender reportedly caught trying to flee Australia by BOAT for Papua New Guinea
A sex offender is said to have made a last attempt at freedom by hitching a ride on a small yacht sailing to Papua New Guinea.
Richard Carl Skrinjar traveled through the Torres Strait on a ship called ‘The Intrusior’ before arriving at the PNG island of Daru, 200km off the coast of Australia, late last month.
It is claimed 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 inform police of his intention to leave Australia.
The alleged escape follows 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 he tried to flee the country on a boat
PNG authorities arrested the Sunshine Coast father at Fly Motel and detained him in connection with immigration matters.
He was expatriated to Australia after his status as a registered child sex offender was confirmed, with AFP officers arresting the Sunshine Coast father upon his arrival in Cairns on March 2.
“The effective sharing of intelligence between the AFP and Papua New Guinea’s law enforcement partners was essential to the successful arrest of a convicted child sex offender,” AFP Detective Inspector Wendy Rix said. The Cairns Post.
“The AFP is committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and will continue to work with both domestic and international partners to identify and stop anyone involved in alleged crimes of this type.”
The Sunshine Coast dad took a ride across the Torres Strait before reportedly planning to fly to Port Moresby and then Thailand
Skrinjar’s alleged escapade is well-timed as his two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence from August 2022 comes to an end
Skrinjar faced the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday charged with one count of breaching restrictions on overseas travel.
There is hope that the arrest will act as a warning to others who think they can escape the law.
‘The ABF has been ramping up our border intelligence capabilities in recent years, working closely with agencies here in Australia and with our partners overseas to build a global web of information sharing about those who seek to harm our communities’ , said acting commander of the Australian Border Force. of Operations Queensland Scott Butters said.
He must appear in court again on March 11.
He faced the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday charged with one count of breaching restrictions on overseas travel