New South Wales authorities have applied to have child molester and former fugitive Charles Batham transferred from a jail in Perth in order to face fresh criminal charges.
The British-born aviator is serving a nine-year jail sentence in Western Australia, after being convicted of sexually abusing two girls in the northern WA town of Broome.
Charles Batham, photographed during his time on the run in Europe. (Facebook)
The 81-year-old initially fled Australia in 2011 when charges were laid, triggering a decade-long international manhunt.
He was eventually captured in 2020 while living in a village in Italy, after an ABC investigation generated sightings and tip-offs from across Europe and Asia.
Charles Batham was arrested in dramatic scenes in Italy in November 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Supplied: WA Police)
The ABC has confirmed fresh arrest warrants have been issued in NSW, with the attorney-general requesting Batham be extradited to face a fresh prosecution.
“The NSW attorney-general has written to his WA counterpart requesting a prisoner transfer for outstanding warrants,” the NSW Department of Communities and Justice said in the statement.
“This request is being considered by WA authorities.”
Victim-survivor speaks
One of the women Batham was convicted of sexually abusing said she had been contacted by WA authorities to provide feedback on the request.
Sherrie, who asked that her surname not be used for privacy reasons, was molested by Batham as a nine-year-old.
Sherrie was sexually abused by Charles Batham when she was nine years old. She was devastated when he escaped Australia. (Supplied)
“They’ve got in touch to give me an opportunity to weigh in and give my thoughts, which I appreciate,” she said.
“I’m willing to have him released on parole if it’s guaranteed he’s taken into custody by New South Wales police to have his day in court over there.
“I don’t want to do anything to deny these other complainants their chance to get closure.
“It’s important for me to know that before he dies … he’s held accountable for as many of his alleged crimes as possible.”
Batham was a well-known character around Broome, and ran an ultralight trike aircraft tour company. (Supplied)
Neither jurisdiction would confirm what criminal charges or allegations the arrest warrants related to.
Normally, police and prosecutors would wait until a prisoner had completed their sentence before extraditing them for fresh prosecution interstate.
But WA Justice Department correspondence seen by the ABC suggests Batham could be transferred prior to becoming eligible for parole in May 2027.
If this occurs, he would continue serving his sentence in a NSW prison.
The decision to transfer Batham from Acacia Prison in Perth will be made by WA Attorney-General Toni Buti.
The WA government has sought feedback from the victims of Charles Batham (pictured) about his potential extradition. (ABC News)
History in Sydney
An earlier Background Briefing investigation confirmed Charles Batham lived in NSW for a decade.
Charles Batham on the back of a motorcycle shortly after his arrival in Sydney in the 1980s. (Fairfax: Paul Matthews)
The aviator, described by former friends as sociable and outgoing, arrived in Sydney in 1985 celebrating a world-record-breaking motorcycle trip — a claim later revealed to be false.
Former friends and associates recall him living in the Kings Cross area of Sydney, and hiring women to sell red roses to courting couples at local restaurants.
In the 1990s he relocated to Broome, where his offending culminated with an international manhunt and eventual conviction.
Charles Batham’s arrival in Sydney after his allegedly record-breaking travels was celebrated with a function at the Opera House. (Fairfax: Paul Matthews)
