NSW woman claims ignorance of plot to smuggle fugitive bikie out of Australia

A New South Wales woman embroiled in an alleged plot to smuggle fugitive Queensland bikie Dylan Cvek out of the country has been released on bail on a $100,000 surety.

Fatma Skaf, 40, was arrested on Monday morning while driving between Exmouth and Karratha, about 1,000km north of Perth in Western Australia's remote North West.

Her arrest came after officers from WA's Joint Organised Crime Taskforce stopped a luxury yacht 50km off the coast of Exmouth, with Mr Cvek and fellow Queenslanders Cass Williams and Jessica Beckett on board.

Mr Cvek has since been extradited to Queensland to face multiple charges, while Ms Skaf, Ms Williams and Ms Beckett have all been charged with attempted people smuggling.

It is the first time anyone in WA has been charged with the offence, with Ms Skaf facing the Karratha Magistrate's Court today for an initial hearing.

Free trip gone wrong

Prosecutors alleged Ms Skaf drove Mr Cvek the 550km from Karratha to Exmouth, where she dropped him off at the local boat ramp in the early hours of the morning.

The court was told the 40-year-old woman travelled to WA expecting to have an "intimate relationship" with Mr Cvek.

Defence counsel Adam Oswald said she had no idea the Queensland man was a fugitive, or had any knowledge of the alleged plot to spirit him out of the country.

Instead, Mr Oswald said she had been drawn to WA by the promise of an all-expenses paid holiday.

Prosecutor Shaz Naidu told the court Ms Skaf had changed her story after her arrest, after initially telling police she was in the area for sightseeing.

She later alleged she was punched in the sternum and taken to Exmouth under duress.

Investigation in early stages

Ms Naidu said the prosecution was in the early stages of collecting evidence, but was reviewing devices including a laptop found in Ms Skaf's car believed to belong to Mr Cvek, and Ms Skaf's phone.

Setting Ms Skaf's surety at $100,000, magistrate Cillian Stockdale told the court he was reassured by Ms Skaf's lack of a criminal record and limited involvement in the alleged plot compared to her co-accused.

"I do consider, on the basis of the evidence, it cannot be said to be a strong case," Mr Stockdale said.

Ms Skaf's bail came with multiple conditions, including not contacting any of the co-accused, nor coming within 100 metres of them.

She is also prevented from leaving Australia and cannot come within 1 kilometre of an international airport, except for the purpose of returning to her home in NSW, where she will report to Bankstown Police Station twice a week.

Thailand the final stop

Police initially alleged the yacht was on its way to Indonesia, but the court heard today that Thailand was the plotters' alleged final destination.

The taskforce has been investigating the alleged scheme since last month, with investigations into the syndicate allegedly responsible ongoing.

Mr Williams and Ms Beckett are due before Carnarvon Magistrate's Court on June 15.

Ms Skaf is due to face court again in Perth on July 10.