POLICE NEWS: Port Douglas prawn trawler incident charges hit court
Cairns court
An Italian national has been charged with unlawful use of a vessel, operating a vessel without the appropriate licence, and wilful damage in relation to an incident that happened with the Diamond Lil prawn trawler late last month.
Joel Martinez, 25, appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court this week after he was arrested by police while tied to a pole near the Port Douglas docks following a citizen’s arrest.
Mr Martinez allegedly ran the boat aground after driving it away from the docks on Sunday, November 30.
The matter was adjourned until January 5 so his lawyer could discuss the matter with the police prosecutions team.
The incident shut down the anticipated Sunday prawn sale at the Port Douglas Public Jetty, with Santiego Seafoods’s Laurie Moull posting a blunt message online to customers to explain why no prawns were available that day.
Photos of Mr Martinez tied to a pole, with his feet and hands bound, were posted on social media after the incident.
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