By Nick Ralston
TWO young men, charged after they arrived at Central Station allegedly carrying two suitcases with $2 million in cash, first came to rail staff's attention when they tried to book economy tickets for their cross-country train journey before splashing out on gold class.
Li Wang, 26, from Sydney, and Yu Xiang, 25, from Auburn, yesterday appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court charged with recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The pair was arrested at Central on March 12 and searched by police when they arrived from Perth on the Indian Pacific.
Officers had been tipped off by the train staff about the two men, who are unemployed and are on temporary tourist visas, because of their suspicious behaviour during the four-day journey.
Police allege that Mr Wang and Mr Xiang first came to the attention of rail staff when they visited Perth's main railway station on March 9, wanting to buy two backpacker class seats for the Indian Pacific.
They were told those seats were all booked but after insisting they must travel that day the men eventually agreed to take two available spots in the gold deluxe section of the train.
It is alleged the men paid $6000 in cash for two one-way tickets to Sydney with a sleeper cabin.
Once on the train, police allege the pair raised the suspicion of the on-board staff because, unlike others travelling in the gold deluxe section, the men were wearing shorts and black thongs.
The men also refused offers by the porters, available to gold class travellers, to help move their two black plastic suitcases with padlocks.
Mr Wang and Mr Xiang also did not leave their sleeper cabin for the entire leg between Perth and Adelaide and ordered room service.
That was enough for the train staff to notify the West Australian and NSW Police of their suspicions, when the Indian Pacific arrived in Adelaide.
Mr Wang and Mr Xiang were stopped by officers when they arrived in Sydney and agreed to have their suitcases searched.
Police allege they found about $2 million inside vacuum sealed bags.
Both men have refused to be interviewed by police. The matter returns to court on May 17.