Sayet Erhan Akca, a man who fled Australia in 2023 over drug charges, is now under suspicion for taking part in the antisemitic Dural caravan hoax that occurred in January in Sydney, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported late March.
In January, law enforcement reported that in the suburb of Dural near Sydney, Australia, a caravan was filled with explosives and a note listing the “Great Jewish Synagogue.” As the incident came to public attention, the Premier, Chris Minns, called it "a potential mass casualty event".
Later, the authorities announced that the incident was a hoax and found that Akca may have taken part in the plot.
Akca’s whereabouts have been unknown since he fled Australia. In September 2023, a warrant issued by the New South Wales District Court called for the arrest of Akca, but he never arrived at his court hearing.
Akca was smuggled out of Australia by a resident of Queensland, Sean Eamon Ryan, a 57-year-old, and another unnamed collaborator. Both have been charged with smuggling, as well as a separate charge of supplying materials to support a member of a criminal organization.
The unidentified man crewed the boat that picked up Akca and transported him to Thailand. It’s reported that Ryan knew Akca was not permitted to leave Australia but allowed the sail to Phuket, Thailand.
When Ryan appeared in court in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court late March, several outbursts were heard as Ryan and his supporters went through the gallery when the government’s opposition lawyer, DDP India Paul, spoke.
Paul opposed the court granting Ryan bail due to the risk of his also fleeing the country, not making it to future court dates, or interfering with witnesses. Paul told the court that Ryan had already tampered with evidence by allegedly dropping his phone into the ocean.
Ryan was given bail, and the trial will continue at the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on May 16.
Akca surrendered passport, but boarded a boat and fled
According to his court documents, Akca had previously surrendered his passport in terms of his bail conditions. However, when he was allowed to travel outside Queensland as a part of his bail agreement in the summer of 2023, he boarded a boat and fled overseas.
The AFP Commander Naomi Binstead released a comment about Akca. Congratulating her team for meticulously picking apart the smuggling operation that allowed Akca to flee.
"Alleged criminals facing serious charges and potential penalties of life imprisonment will often do almost anything to avoid facing court," Commander Binstead said. "But anyone who helps someone leave the country risks being imprisoned for significant periods themselves.