David Hicks in proceeds of crime legal battle

A former US Guantanamo Bay guard will travel to Sydney this month to give evidence in David Hicks’s legal battle with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The DPP has brought a case against Mr Hicks, arguing the profits of his memoir, Guantanamo: My Journey, are the proceeds of crime.

Brandon Neely, a guard at Guantanamo at the time of Mr Hicks’s detention, tweeted that he would give evidence in the case when it comes before the NSW Supreme Court on July 30.

Mr Neely has spoken publicly of the human rights abuses at Guantanamo, and is expected to testify under oath that any evidence obtained during the time Mr Hicks was in Guantanamo was unreliable due to his mistreatment there.

Just after midnight yesterday, Mr Neely tweeted about his involvement with the case.

“Going to OZ this month to testify under oath about #GTMO & David Hicks treatment” the tweet said.

A later tweet implied he would testify in favour of Mr Hicks.

“July 30th #Sydney Aus at the Supreme Court of NSW come out & support David Hicks as the Govt attempts 2 take his profits from his book #GTMO” Mr Neely tweeted.

If the court finds the evidence against Mr Hicks was obtained illegally or improperly, the judge may choose to exclude it from the case.

The DPP decided to pursue the case after receiving an initial brief from the Australian Federal Police. A spokesperson for the acting federal Attorney-General, Jason Clare, said that there was no governmental involvement in the case.

“All prosecutions, including this one, are decisions for the independent Director of Public Prosecutions” the spokesperson said.

(Source: “Hicks guard evidence”, James O’Doherty , SMH, July 8, 2012)

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A Warrnambool recreational drug user who claimed he supplied friends with amphetamine at below cost price has been convicted and fined $3500 after trying to sell drugs to a security guard.

Benjamin Thornton, 19, of Sharpe Avenue, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to trafficking amphetamine and dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Police said Thornton attempted to sell one gram of amphetamine to a security guard at the Whalers Hotel in Warrnambool that at 3.10am on March 11.

He was detained by the guard until police arrived. Thornton was found by police to be in possession of three deal bags containing about 2.5 grams of amphetamine and $300 in cash. He told police he bought five grams of amphetamine in Geelong the day before for $112 a gram and had sold some of that to friends for $100 a gram.

Thornton told police he bought the drugs “just so we can have a good time at the Folkie weekend”.

Defence counsel Tony Brown said his client had been unemployed for eight months and decided to buy drugs for himself and his friends from his first pay cheque.

Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said he did not believe Thornton had gone to Geelong and bought the drugs in a one-off transaction, describing it as an unbelievable version of events.

Mr Brown said his client claimed to have bought the drugs from a friend and was a sporadic user.

Mr Brown said his client wanted to move to Western Australia to work in the mines and a drug conviction could put an end to those ambitions.

Mr Klestadt said the use of illicit drugs was an abuse of the user’s body.

He said Thornton had taken the same initial steps as countless other people who were now either dead or in jail.

The magistrate said he was not prepared to fine Thornton without recording a conviction because a strong message had to be sent to others.

He said he understood a conviction could be a tragedy for Thornton’s future career prospects.

(Source: Andrew Thomson, Warrnambool Standard, 6 June 2012)

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A Burpengary Queensland man who yelled at police when he was caught speeding yesterday afternoon has been charged for several offences, including drug possession.

Police said they had to detain the 25-year-old man after he became angry when spotted speeding along Joyce Street around 3pm.

Police say they found a large amount of drugs, money and utensils in his home.

The man was charged with one count each of possessing a schedule 1 drug, possessing a dangerous drug, possessing utensils, possessing a thing used in connection with smoking a dangerous drug, possessing proceeds of crime, possessing a restricted weapon, unlicensed driving and obstructing police.

He was bailed and will appear in Caboolture Magistrates’ Court later this month.

(Source: Kieran Rooney From: The Courier-Mail June 05, 2012)

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The drugs case against suspended South Adelaide Football Club player Guy O’Keefe has been adjourned until July.

The 22-year-old has yet to plead to charges of trafficking and possessing ecstasy, using ecstasy and dealing in property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

Prosecutors in Victoria will allege O’Keefe was arrested at Nhill on February 27.

He was allegedly pulled over and, during a search of his car, officers found 160 ecstasy pills and $30,000 cash.

Nhill Magistrates Court adjourned O’Keefe’s matter yesterday until July.

(Source: June 05, 2012, Adelaide Now)

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If you would like further information about using our forensic accounting services for a proceeds of crime or other expert witness matter, then please contact us for an obligation free discussion. We provide services to corporations, law firms and individuals in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and across Australia.