George Chambour denied bail again in alleged AN0M drug case
An alleged drug dealer who offered to cough up $6 million and wear an electronic ankle monitor in return for bail has been rejected after a court heard he allegedly sent a message saying he was “trying to bounce” from the country.
George Chambour, of Roselands, is alleged to have been involved in the trafficking of a commercial quantity of methamphetamine throughout NSW, after drugs were seized in a tow truck on the Central Coast and in a Seven Hills warehouse.
The 37-year-old was one of many Operation Ironside arrests where authorities were secretly monitoring a fake encrypted app, called AN0M, used by the underworld to coordinate drug deals.
Chambour appeared at Central Local Court via AVL from Mid-North Coast Correctional Centre on Tuesday, where solicitor Elie Rahme argued for his client to be released on bail.
Mr Rahme told the court his client had not been served a brief of evidence after being told it was ready in November.
Chambour was told he would receive the documents via laptop in early December but the court heard it had never arrived to the prison, and prosecutors never followed it up after it was allegedly lost.
Magistrate Alison Viney said it is the obligation of the prosecution to serve a copy of the brief and “there had been no inquiries made by the Crown on whether he had the service”.
“I can’t say the Crown has done enough,” she said.
Mr Rahme said Chambour should be granted bail to have access to the evidence as he was “entitled to know the case he has to meet”.
“It will give him the right to a fair trial and process in our legal justice system,” he told the court.
“How do we know this won’t happen again?”
A Crown prosecutor told the court there were no bail conditions that could mitigate the risks of releasing the 37-year-old on bail.
He said the risks of reoffending and possibly attempting to flee Australia were too great.
Mr Rahme insisted his client should be bailed as the prosecution had “failed” to provide him the evidence, leaving him to languish in a maximum-security prison until at least 2023 awaiting a trial, which undermines his attempts to prepare for the case with his legal team.
He had also been one of the many prisoners inside Parklea prison to contract Covid-19 during his time in custody.
The court heard Chambour allegedly discussed fleeing Australia by escaping to Indonesia via a boat, considering paying a criminal called “Coconut” to help him reach the Middle East for the hefty price of $500,000.
In a message to “Coconut” he allegedly said: “I’m trying to bounce, do you have any updates on the boat?” and said to “organise people”.
“Coconut” allegedly said in response: “Once the boat is ready I’m heading to Indo waters”, followed by discussions to be picked up and flown from Bali to Dubai.
It is “unusual” to have such a detailed escape plan in writing, prosecutors told the court, who said Chambour was found with $38,000 when he was arrested.
The court heard he allegedly planned to flee once he was aware police were looking for him.
Friends and family had come together to offer up $6m, secured against their homes and bank accounts, and Chambour offered to wear an ankle monitor.
Magistrate Viney acknowledged Chambour’s lengthy criminal history, involving charges and convictions relating to drugs and violence offences, and said he is facing a strong criminal case and lengthy sentence if found guilty.
“There are concerns with his desire to flee Australia – the defendant when aware the police were actively involved in search warrants and looking for him – he hid out at hotels near the airport,” Magistrate Viney said.
“Obviously had a desire to leave the jurisdiction.”
Magistrate Viney refused bail.
This is the third time Chambour has been refused bail after attempts in both the Local and Supreme Courts.
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