A superyacht owner charged with manslaughter, people smuggling, and commercial drug importation will remain behind bars with his son who also allegedly participated in the $20m cocaine plot.
James Blake Blee, 64, and his son James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, 20, were represented in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
The elder Mr Blee, an eccentric superyacht tour operator, was arrested at Cairns airport in May last year as he prepared to board a one-way flight to Singapore.
James Blake Blee (pictured) was arrested at Cairns airport in May last year. The 64-year-old has been charged with manslaughter, people smuggling and commercial drug importation
Police claim Mr Blee senior (pictured) engaged in unlawful activity that caused the death of 31-year-old Brazilian national Bruno Borges Martins who police believe drowned trying to retrieve packages containing more than 50kg of cocaine in the Port of Newcastle on May 9
Police allege he smuggled two suspected men from Indonesia into Australia through a Darwin port.
One of the men, 31-year-old Brazilian national Bruno Borges Martins, died two weeks later in the Port of Newcastle on May 9.
Police believe he was trying to retrieve packages containing more than 50kg of cocaine when he drowned. His body was found floating in the port alongside some of the packages on May 9 last year.
Police claim Mr Blee senior engaged in unlawful activity that caused the Brazilian national’s death.
The pair were allegedly caught on CCTV camera buying diving equipment from a Newcastle diving shop prior to the discovery of Mr Borge’s body.
Above is a Daily Mail Australia graphic of what is known about the botched scuba diving operation. Mr Blee has been arrested and charged in connection to the incident
James Blee’s arrest followed the death of a diver who was trying to recover $20million of cocaine from the hull of a ship in the Port of Newcastle
His son, James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, (pictured) has also been charged over his alleged involvement in the $20million cocaine plot
The superyacht tour operator has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, manslaughter, two counts of people smuggling, and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime.
Police claim his son knew about and contributed to the alleged deadly cocaine importation plot.
James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, who bills himself as an actor and videographer, was arrested in November last year over his alleged involvement.
He was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and supplying more than a large commercial quantity.
The elder Mr Blee (pictured) is a superyacht tour operator. On Wednesday, the court was told father and son had been in custody since their respective arrests last year
James Lake-Kusviandy Blee, who bills himself as an actor and videographer, was arrested in November last year over his alleged involvement
On Wednesday, the court was told father and son had been in custody since their respective arrests last year.
Their lawyer Alex Somers did not apply for bail for either of the men and bail was formally refused.
The court was told both matters would be adjourned to allow time for the charges to be certified and a brief of evidence to be served.
The Blee men will remain behind bars on remand until they return to court next month.
