A Thurgoona man stranded in the Philippines because he repeatedly gets "bumped-off" flights home has had a likely hearing on theft charges delayed by several months.
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The allegations, stemming from back in 2017, were back before Albury Local Court on Monday.
But Australia's closed borders because of the COVID-19 pandemic, plus the scarcity of seats on rescue flights home, meant Michael Graeme Hoffman could not deal with the charges.
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Defence lawyer Tim Huggins told magistrate Richard Funston said there was little in the way of communications to the area in the Philippines where Hoffman was living.
That had made it extremely difficult to advance his case, he said.
Mr Huggins said it had been difficult to even reach Hoffman by telephone.
"He's been put on a flight a number of times and has been bumped-off," he said.
Mr Huggins said had not even had the opportunity to conference the case with Hoffman, aside from to confirm that he intends to plead not guilty.
Hoffman is facing four larceny charges.
Police have accused him of stealing, at Bungowannah between August 21 and 29, 2017, dozens of 25-kilogram bags of fertiliser, star pickets and galvanised steel posts, valued at $2978.
Mr Funston adjourned all charges to March 22, after discussions with Mr Huggins and police prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Coombes.
