A NEWCASTLE burger shop owner accused of being involved in a people smuggling ring involving black market labour hire has pleaded not guilty and will face a trial in Newcastle District Court.
Chinese National Mu Fang, now 32, of Birmingham Gardens, appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday via audio visual link from Long Bay Correctional Centre charged with two counts of aggravated people smuggling of at least five persons.
The Commonwealth DPP withdrew one of the charges and Mr Fang pleaded not guilty to the other. He will next appear in Newcastle District Court next month to get a trial date.
Mr Fang and a 30-year-old North Queensland man were arrested in June 2020 after a lengthy investigation by Australian Federal Police officers culminated in simultaneous raids in the Hunter and Mareeba, west of Cairns.
Police allege the pair were part of a network, where potential illegal immigrants attempting to enter Australia were told they would have to undertake unpaid work for a year to repay the syndicate's costs for their journey.
