Spy charge facing Bondi businessman 'arguable': judge
A Bondi-based businessman accused of helping Chinese spies has been told it would be "crazy" for him to flee Australia, as he waits to hear if he will be granted bail.
Alexander Csergo faced a bail hearing at Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Thursday, ahead of his scheduled 2025 trial, having already spent the past 14 months behind bars.
During the hearing, Judge Graham Turnbull gave a strong indication he would grant the 56-year-old bail on Friday, after considering the evidence overnight, if he is satisfied the risk of flight is sufficiently dealt with.
Csergo has pleaded not guilty to one charge of reckless foreign interference, after allegedly providing information to Chinese spies posing as think-tank workers.
Prosecutors allege that between February 2021 and March 2023, the now 56-year-old engaged in covert or deceptive conduct involving two foreigners named "Ken" and "Evelyn".
Judge Turnbull said the amount of time Csergo will have to wait until his scheduled trial, and the strength of the case against him, would both be factors in his decision whether to grant bail.
"The strength of the crown case is, I would say, arguable," Judge Turnbull told the court.
He noted the case did not include allegations that any of the material Csergo is accused of providing was classified.
Csergo's elderly mother, his brother and Csergo himself have agreed to forfeit $100,000 each, should he fail to appear in court.
Judge Turnbull said if Csergo was to flee it would be an "ultimate betrayal" of his mother, who has attended almost every one of his court hearings in person.
"It would be crazy, wouldn't it?" the judge asked Csergo.
"I agree Your Honour," Csergo replied.
However, Judge Turnbull did note the allegations facing Csergo are "serious".
"The nature of the allegations are one which suggest a secret or clandestine action with a foreign power or individuals," he said.
High-profile lawyer and former ACT attorney-general, Bernard Collaery, who is representing Csergo, told an earlier court hearing his client had co-operated with the alleged spies out of fear of repercussions while he was in China.
Csergo used open-source information and co-operated as harmlessly as possible in his exchanges with the alleged foreign agents, according to Mr Collaery.
"This man was determined not to be detained in China," he told a bail hearing at the time.
"He was co-operating to keep his nose clean."
A bail hearing has been scheduled for Friday, followed by a four-week trial on May 19, 2025.
