NSW: Drug accused refused bail despite massive surety

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-1999
NSW: Drug accused refused bail despite massive surety

(CHANGING KEYWORD FROM DRUGS TO NARCOTICS)

By John Kidman, Crime Reporter

SYDNEY, Feb 10 AAP - Two men accused of large-scale narcotics trafficking were refused bail
in a Sydney court today, despite offering more than $1 million surety.

Alleged racketeers Rahi Chekeri and Syed Tariq Hameed were arrested by Australian Federal
Police last Thursday in Sydney's west following a $40 million heroin seizure.

In evidence tendered to Central Local Court today, federal police officers alleged Chekeri,
40, was found in possession of more than 17kg of the narcotic.

The statement of facts claimed the Emu Plains grocer had secreted 25 700-gram packs of
heroin in the basement of his Toorak Crescent house in a consignment of dates.

It was also alleged he had a further four bags of the drug stashed in the boot of his BMW,
ready for sale.

He is charged with two counts of possessing a prohibited import.

Describing his client as a successful and wealthy young man, barrister Peter Stitz told the
court Chekeri was prepared to put up his $450,000 home as a guarantee he would not abscond on
bail.

But Magistrate Alan Moore said he regarded the charges as extremely serious and noted the
very strong case against the accused, in denying the application.

Hameed's counsel, Phillip Boulten, said the 30-year-old had been living with his wife and
two young children at suburban Hurlstone Park in very modest circumstances.

Mr Boulten said the out-of-work real estate agent was willing to mortgage his home and
another property as surety to the tune of $290,000.

In addition, three of Hameed's cousins and a family friend were prepared to add to that
amount more than $400,000 "using perhaps their only assets", he said.

While taking the amount into consideration, Mr Moore cited concerns that Hameed had
allegedly made certain admissions to police and also remanded him in custody.

Hameed is charged with two counts of possessing a prohibited import and five of supplying a
prohibited drug.

Federal police allege he attended nine meetings with an undercover agent posing as a
heroin-buyer known as Tony between January 6 and February 4.

Each time the rendezvous involved either the sale of narcotics at $75,000 a kilogram, to be
paid later, or plans to sell drugs.

It is alleged Hameed and 32-year-old Mohammad Ilyas Issa supplied Tony with heroin in
plastic bags several times, including on one occasion from the boot of Chekeri's BMW.

Issa, a father of three, is facing three counts of possessing a prohibited import and two
of supplying a prohibited drug.

All three accused men are due to appear in Central Local Court on March 5.

AAP jk/tsm/gl/br

KEYWORD: NARCOTICS (CARRIED EARLIER)

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