February 10, 2021
Charges against a couple arrested in Nanango on August 4 last year after they allegedly breached Queensland’s COVID-19 border restrictions have been dropped.
Lawrence Gordon Petersen, 63, and Edith van Dommelen, 68, from Perth, had been charged with fraud and failing to comply with border directions.
The charges were initially mentioned in Richlands Magistrates Court before being transferred to Goondiwindi Magistrates Court, where the matter was adjourned several times.
Police had alleged the couple, who intended house sitting in Nanango, made a false declaration when they crossed the border checkpoint at Goondiwindi on July 27.
At the time, Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski described the offences as ” very serious”.
Instead of facing court, the couple has now been issued with on-the-spot fines of $4003 each for failing to comply with border directions.
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