Drug plan foiled at Wellington Correctional centre

Rami Potress, 26, of Cartwright, and John Quang Nguyen, 32, of Edensor Park, were arrested on Wednesday after authorities received intelligence reports an attempt would be made to introduce drugs into the jail.

Potress and Nguyen sat handcuffed in the dock during separate appearances before Magistrate Michael Price yesterday.

No pleas were entered to drug supply charges.

Prosecution facts tendered to the court said security and vigilance had been increased at the jail in recent days.

At 12.35pm on Wednesday corrective services staff saw a vehicle being driven in a southerly direction on Mudgee Road, near the jail.

A short time later the vehicle was seen travelling at low speed in the opposite direction.

At 12.45pm staff saw two men, alleged to have been passengers in the vehicle, running towards the jail. Staff said one of the men was carrying a white plastic shopping bag.

Police allege the shopping bag was dropped when the men were challenged by corrective officers and ordered to stop.

See your ad here

Prosecution facts said a search of the shopping bag revealed five smaller packages with names written on them.

The small packages contained mobile phones and chargers, SIM cards, strips of Buprenorphine (used to treat opioid dependence) with a street value of $500 and cut balloons containing green vegetable matter, white powder, different coloured tablets and crystal-like rocks (alleged to be cannabis, methamphetamine and heroin).

Police anticipate further charges will be laid against the co-accused when the seized substances undergo forensic testing.

Prosecution facts said the vehicle in which the co-accused had allegedly been sighted was later stopped by Mudgee police, 100km from Wellington.

The driver and passenger, both female, were spoken to by police and denied any knowledge of the co-accused.

Potress was dressed in a black long-sleeved t-shirt, blue track pants and joggers during his appearance before Magistrate Price yesterday.

continued page 2

The court was told Potress had a poor attitude to police during his time in custody and refused to comply with a number of simple requests.

"His alleged intention was to supply prohibited drugs to prison inmates," prosecution facts said.

"If successful, if would have created a possible dangerous and hazardous environment within the prison."

At the time of his arrest at Wellington, Potress was supposed to be reporting to Sydney police as part of a bail undertaking on other drug charges.

In July 2012 he had been arrested by a police strike force investigating Assyrian organised crime. Prosecution facts said Potress was found with 550g of cannabis, 19.2g cocaine and $3870 in cash.

Potress told strikeforce detectives he purchased the drugs for personal use. He said he found the cocaine and was minding the money for a friend who intended to buy a car.

A Legal Aid solicitor asked Magistrate Price to release Potress on bail.

"He lives with his father who is ill and requires assistance with cooking, cleaning and shopping," the solicitor said.

"He would agree not to leave the house unless in his father's company. He would not consume alcohol or illicit drugs and would not contact the co-accused or witnesses.

"He and his father are not of means and cannot offer a (cash) surety."

Magistrate Price said Potress was on bail for similar offending behaviour.

"Bail cannot be granted," the magistrate said.

Potress did not display any emotion as he was led back to the court cells by corrective services officers.

Nguyen was not as subdued when he faced the court dressed in jeans, a short-sleeved t-shirt and joggers.

He screwed up his face and called out to his solicitor when Magistrate Price rejected Legal Aid submissions to mitigate acceptable risks posed to the community.

The court was told Nguyen had an extensive history of offending over more than a decade.

The court was told Nguyen worked as a roof tiler and lived with his father. He could offer cash sureties totalling $2000.

"There are questions marks about the allegations made on the police fact sheet," Legal Aid said.

"It is not clear which male was holding the bag."

Magistrate Price said Nguyen had previously been sentenced to three months jail for breaching bail.

"You have failed to appear (in court) on three separate occasions and warrants have previously been issued," the magistrate said.

"You fall into the category of unacceptable risk. Bail is refused."

Magistrate Price gave the prosecution until September 25 to complete a brief of evidence.

The charges against Potress and Nguyen were adjourned to Wellington Local Court on October 14.