A Sydney man faces possible jail time over the deaths of two men swept from a ute said to have been crossing an inland creek during the recent NSW floods.
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Jawad Al Hussein, 41, was charged on Wednesday with two counts of manslaughter seven weeks after allegedly attempting to negotiate a causeway on swollen Prestons Creek at Bevendale, west of Goulburn.
The vehicle was swept by floodwaters into the waterway, police said at the time.
Al Hussein and another man in the cabin of the ute swam to safety but two others - aged 30 and 32 - who were travelling in the tray, were taken downstream. Their bodies were found days later.
A day after his arrest, Al Hussein faced Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday and was granted bail.
Conditions include a $300,000 bail surety and that he report to police three times a week. He is also barred from driving.
As well as manslaughter, the Guildford man faces two back-up counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and a separate charge of driving while suspended.
He's due back in court on February 23.
Meanwhile, a body believed to be that of a missing elderly Queensland man has been recovered from floodwaters in southwestern NSW.
The 89-year-old was last known to be travelling from Gympie on October 31 and was headed for South Australia via Victoria, police said.
After someone spotted a flooded vehicle in the small rural town of Barmedman on Tuesday, officers located the man's body inside.
While it is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing man.
Eight people have died in NSW flooding since October - the same number killed during repeated floods between February and April.
Australian Associated Press
