The serial swindler claims a global team of hackers accessed close to 200 privileged communications in a disturbing breach that could impact his defence.

The 60-year-old faces a raft of charges over an alleged $2 million Bitcoin fraud in Hong Kong in 2019 and 2020.

Dressed in a dark suit, Foster appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday on five counts of fraud, two counts of obtaining or dealing with identification information and one count of falsifying records.

Defence lawyer Chris Hannay has sought additional material to be disclosed by the prosecution, forcing the matter to be adjourned until April.

Outside court, Foster claimed privileged communications with his legal team had come under attack by global hackers.

“The reason we have an adjournment today … is that my emails and emails between me and my lawyers were hacked 187 times,” Foster said.

“It is probably no greater perversion of the court of justice than people hack emails between their clients, lawyers and police, so we need to gather that information.”

Foster also lashed out at police after charges stemming from a NSW investigation were discontinued.

NSW police laid initial charges, which led to undercover officers tackling and arresting him on a Port Douglas beach in August 2020.

The incident was filmed from the ground and by drone with the footage shown on Nine’s 60 Minutes program.

Foster claims NSW police had since launched an internal probe of his arrest, and his legal team has demanded the release of the report.

“It’s been internally released to the police, we want it to be made public. We’ve written to the NSW Police Commissioner saying this isn’t good enough.

“All the emails need to be released and no longer redacted … because it stinks to high hell.”

The case is due back in court on April 18 for further mention.