They also said Barrientos was a flight risk as he had access to millions of dollars, financial support, was from the UK with no other link to WA, and that more charges may arise.

Barrientos’ defence lawyer Seamus Rafferty requested a suppression order on his client’s name being published, stating it would jeopardise his right to a fair trial.

However, journalists in court objected to this request, and no orders were imposed.

Rafferty said his client should be treated the same as any other accused despite his status, and there was a possibility that if he wasn’t granted bail, Barrientos would sit in custody for two years until trial.

He argued the credibility of the complainant would be called into question, stating she had rung her friend at 5.30am the morning after the alleged offending and made no mention of what had happened, and that the prosecution’s case was not as strong as they claimed.

Rafferty suggested police take Barrientos’ passport, and order a $100,000 personal undertaking and a surety of $100,000 signed by someone in Perth.

But prosecutors argued bail conditions should also include no access whatsoever to social media – something Rafferty said was unrealistic, but suggested it would be possible to ban him from discussing the case online.

The matter has been stood down until Thursday afternoon while Magistrate Tanya Watt considers the submissions, but a decision on bail may not be made until Friday morning.

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