A one-time international fugitive who police say is capable of "deadly force" has been freed on bail in Canberra after he was charged with possessing stolen piglets.
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Owen William Van Duren, 39, was arrested on Wednesday after police found the four animals - as well as an adolescent pig - in the backyard of a Deakin residence.
In police documents tendered to the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, officers alleged the piglets were among several animals stolen from Yarralumla Play Station during a heist last week.
Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter asked prosecutor Michael Gemmell, "Is this the poacher and the gamekeeper?", and said she understood there were still "chooks, [a rooster] and turkeys outstanding".
Mr Gemmell said the piglets had been returned to the play station, and described the circumstances of Mr Van Duren's case as "somewhat bizarre".
A police bail consideration form said Mr Van Duren was wanted for crimes in the Northern Territory and had escaped from custody in Thailand after being charged with assault.
The document said he was re-arrested in the country and, after his eventual release, stole a power vessel with his brother Shane Van Duren and sailed it to Australia in 2018.
The document said officers found a large amount of high-powered explosives, fireworks, and bomb-making material in a shipping container at the Deakin residence, as well as nine cannabis plants and hydroponic equipment - but Owen Van Duren denied living there.
Instead, Mr Gemmell said the electrician claimed to live in a Narrabundah "halfway house", despite an earlier admission by his partner that he lived at the Deakin address.
"Police seized four bolt-action unregistered firearms, sniper scopes, three cross bows with arrows, night vision equipment and homemade firearm suppressors," the bail consideration form said.
"Police hold significant concern the defendant was stockpiling the prohibited items with the intent to use them to harm others.
"The defendant's brother, who is a possible co-offender, was a member of the Australian Army and foreign military forces.
"Due to this, the defendant and his brother have the capability to use such prohibited items in a skilled manner for deadly force."
The document said police were still investigating the Yarralumla Play Station burglary, but believed Owen Van Duren had been involved in it.
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Owen Van Duren has so far been charged with unlawfully possessing stolen property, which he has not yet entered a plea to.
Mr Gemmell said further charges were imminent.
Ms Hunter initially said she would not grant Mr Van Duren bail because "it's too dangerous".
Solicitor Kara McKee told her the legislation meant she had to in the circumstances, given Mr Van Duren had been charged with so little.
"We need to amend the Bail Act somehow," Ms Hunter said.
She imposed on Mr Van Duren strict bail conditions, including that he report to police three times a week, surrender his passport, abide by a 8pm to 8am curfew, not be in Yarralumla, and not possess firearms or explosives.
Mr Van Duren is next due in court on September 30.