TWO “high-risk missing children” were found at a Robinvale caravan park following a dramatic police chase involving a Melbourne man.
In Mildura Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Narung Simen was sentenced to three months’ jail for offences including two counts of recklessly exposing an emergency worker to risk, recklessly exposing members of the public to risk and using fraudulent numberplates.
On Tuesday, the 24-year-old was identified as travelling with “two high-risk missing children” in a white ute when he stopped to refuel at a Kerang service station.
When he left the store after paying, a second man took the driver’s seat while Simen rode in the tray of the ute.
A prosecutor said the ute was spotted by Swan Hill highway patrol police, who attempted to pull the vehicle over, however the driver sped off.
The ute was later seen at a Robinvale caravan park and, when police arrived, they saw it slowly drive by before Simen, back at the wheel, sped towards the patrol vehicle.
The sergeant driving swerved to avoid a head-on crash.
Simen then weaved in and out of cabins at 60km/h, forcing residents to jump out of the way to avoid being hit.
Simen again lined up the police car as it entered the park, causing the driver to swerve to avoid a collision.
The ute left the park and headed along Bromley Road. It was later found damaged and dumped in Robin Street.
It was towed from the scene and forensically examined.
The prosecutor told the court the second man, who was involved in the Swan Hill police chase, was arrested on Wednesday on outstanding warrants.
The court heard the man had the ute keys in his possession when arrested and told police Simen had asked him to find the dumped ute.
The man also told officers Simen and the children were staying in a cabin at the caravan park, where police had tried to confront him the previous day.
Police again went to the park and took the children into safe custody, arresting Simen.
Simen’s counsel said the accused had travelled to Robinvale for a short holiday and lived with his parents in Melbourne.
He said Simen had moved to Australia from Cambodia as a 13-year-old and there didn’t appear to have any underlying issues except his strong desire to avoid police.
Simen’s relationship with the children is not known.
His licence was disqualified for two years.
