A woman has been extradited to New South Wales (NSW) after being accused of taking three children and fleeing to Queensland.
The 36-year-old was also refused bail after allegedly executing a pre-meditated and calculated plan to remove the kids from the custody of child services.
The woman, who cannot be identified, flew to Sydney under police escort after appearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Defence barrister Peter Lange applied for bail at the extradition hearing, saying the woman was not a flight risk ahead of her appearance in a Sydney court on Thursday.
He said the woman had made no attempt to flee despite knowing her partner and co-accused had been arrested in January.
However, prosecutor Eddie Fraser opposed bail, saying the woman had been aware of a NSW arrest warrant for some time and had told officers she had no intention of returning to Sydney.
“She has been actively avoiding these matters in the hope that they would be not dealt with,” he said.
“It is calculated, brazen and a flagrant disregard for the safety and the welfare of the children.
“The defendant shows a flagrant propensity to be a serious flight risk.”
The woman allegedly indicated to NSW’s Department of Communities and Justice in November 2022 her intent to take the children from their care, travel to Brisbane and “not return.”
“On one occasion, it is alleged the accused tried to remove the children from a supervised visit, however, was stopped by a supervisor,” Fraser said.
The woman carried out premeditated steps over a number of weeks to take the children interstate against the department’s permission in December 2022, he said.
The woman allegedly then gave police the “run around”, hindering their efforts to locate the children.
The three children are now in the care of NSW authorities.
The woman also has a 12-week-old baby under the care of Queensland authorities, the court heard.
“Police hold serious concerns for the potential future incidents that may unfold if the defendant is granted bail and is given the opportunity to remove the children again,” Fraser said.
“She has made it abundantly clear that she does not want to engage with the department.”
Fraser also cited the woman’s NSW criminal history, saying she had accused a former partner of sending threatening messages and images which suggested she was being stalked in February 2022.
Police later discovered the woman had created and sent the messages to herself.
Acting magistrate Patricia Kirkman-Scroope denied bail and approved the extradition, saying the woman had gone to great lengths to remove the children.
“I’m not satisfied she wouldn’t in some way try to manipulate the system again even though there’s only a small window of opportunity,” she said.
“She seems to have this ability to duck and weave to avoid confronting her conduct...there is a risk she may not appear (in Sydney court) on Thursday.”
