A MAN accused of leaving a suspected improvised explosive device at the Williamtown RAAF base in September, causing panic and forcing evacuations and road closures while bomb technicians were called in, told police he was just returning tools and had no intention of scaring anybody.
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Stephen John Raffaeta, 60, who for 32 years was a technician with the RAAF, faced a hearing in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday after pleading not guilty to a charge of leaving a substance to create a false belief of danger. Police say they were called to the RAAF base on Medowie Road about 1.40pm on September 30 after a "suspicious item" was located.
The item, which police later referred to as a suspected improvised explosive device or IED, was a jerry can with both a screwdriver and a cardboard box containing a pressure gauge taped to it.
The pressure gauge was not visible and was only detected when police x-rayed the box, the court heard on Friday.
Also attached to the jerry can was a handwritten note that read: "Returns to the Air Force. My apologies. Kind regards." The item was located about 150 metres from the reception area at the defence force base.
Solicitor Daniel Lewis, for Mr Raffaeta, told Magistrate Ian Cheetham on Friday that Mr Raffaeta had given an interview to police on the day of his arrest, explaining at the outset that he had no intention of frightening anyone and was simply returning some tools.
"This is an offence of specific intent," Mr Lewis said. "The charge establishes that my client has to intend to induce a false belief that the substance or article is likely to be dangerous. "He gave an interview on the day saying that his only intent was to return tools to the RAAF, tools that he took during his 32-year career to tinker on his own workshop. "He said that on two previous occasions he had taken tools back. "He said he has quite an obsessive personality and he "wanted it off his conscious" so he "doesn't have to think about it anymore".
Mr Lewis said Mr Raffaeta wasn't "brave" enough to take the tools to the front gate and speak to anybody about returning them and he had taped them all together "for ease of carrying".
The prosecution said the photos of the item showed that any reasonable person would have thought it was a bomb and would have been concerned for their safety and that Mr Raffaeta's experience as a technician with the RAAF meant he would have had a better idea than most that it looked like an improvised explosive device.
Magistrate Cheetham will deliver judgement on February 5. The charge carries a maximum of five years in jail.
Returns to the Air Force. My apologies. Kind regards.
- The note taped to a suspected improvised explosive device left at Williamtown RAAF base said.
