13 Feb 2007

Absence of Vanuatu prosecution delays court case

4:51 pm on 13 February 2007

Five Australians charged with helping accused conman Peter Foster in Vanuatu have had their cases adjourned after the prosecution failed to turn up to court in Port Vila this morning.

Their lawyer says the five cases have been adjourned until later in the week.

The news agency AAP reports that two of the men have been charged with aiding and abetting Mr Foster.

The three others were aboard the vessel that allegedly brought Mr Foster into Vanuatu.

It is alleged the trio helped Mr Foster enter Vanuatu illegally after he fled Fiji, where he was awaiting fraud charges.

He returned to Australia earlier this month after spending three weeks in a Vanuatu jail for illegally entering the country.