Lawyers for a Darwin man accused of trafficking his wife to India say the allegations are false and part of a bid by the woman to remain in Australia.
Partap Singh, 28, appeared via video link in the Darwin Local Court to apply for bail after being charged last month with trafficking in persons, which attracts a maximum penalty of 12 years jail.
Mr Singh is accused of tricking his 27-year-old wife into leaving Australia to fly to India in February 2019 and then providing false information in separate proceedings he started in Australia earlier this year.
Detectives from the Australian Federal Police's Human Trafficking Operations have also alleged Mr Singh used threats and coercion to garnish his wife's wages and money from her bank account, ultimately stealing $60,000 from her and her family.
But lawyers told Mr Singh's bail hearing they would be fighting the charges.
Barrister Lyma Nguyen said the complainant's credibility and the veracity of her claims were called into question by documents from the separate proceedings, which were not read out in court.
Ms Nguyen told the court Mr Singh's wife was "dependent on [Mr Singh]" for her Australian visa and had made the claims in order to remain in the country.
"You're saying it's a weak Crown case?" Judge Greg Cavanagh asked.
"A very weak Crown case," Ms Nguyen said.
Ms Nguyen argued for bail to be granted, which the prosecution did not oppose so long as a condition of electronic monitoring was imposed.
But Judge Cavanagh asked for a bail report and adjourned the case until Friday.
"The allegations reveal this man may well be capable of organising himself to flee the jurisdiction and I'm concerned about him doing that," Judge Cavanagh said.
"I am prepared to consider releasing him on bail on strict conditions, including electronic monitoring."
A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police said further charges of providing false documents on a non-citizen had been laid against Mr Singh since his arrest.
