Kiwi fugitive Paul Bennett enters no plea

Simone Anne Wright and Paul James Bennett. Photo / ODT

Kiwi fugitive Paul Bennett has appeared in a Sydney court today and entered no plea after 10 months on the run.

Bennett was arrested after sailing into New South Wales on the allegedly stolen yacht Harlech.

New South Wales (NSW) police officers boarded the yacht at Cowan Creek, north of Sydney, about 9.30pm yesterday.

Bennett and his long-term partner Simone Wright were detained on suspicion of stealing the yacht.

He was charged with receiving property stolen from outside New South Wales, while Wright was released without charge.

Bennett did not enter a plea during his brief appearance at the Downing Centre District Court today, AAP reported.

He made no application for bail and will return to court in early March.

Bennett is also subject to several outstanding warrants for blackmail and fraud dating back to 2003.

Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Anderson of Canterbury police said the joint investigation between New Zealand and NSW police was still in its early stages.

"We are working through the legal aspects inherent in a two-country police investigation with New South Wales police, Interpol and New Zealand police liaison officers in Sydney."

He said no further comment would be made as the matter was now before the courts.

However, Mr Anderson did give special mention to Mr Fielding, the Kiwi teenager who spotted the yacht off the NSW coast.

"His intuition and quick thinking not only ensured the recovery the $150,000 stolen yacht but also two people wanted by New South Wales and New Zealand police being detained."