NSW: Prisoner Bassam Hamzy in court on drug mastermind charges
08 Dec 2008 12:52 PM
EDS: Changes ke from TRAFFICKING
SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - Bassam Hamzy has appeared in court over the alleged masterminding of a drug-trafficking syndicate coordinated from his NSW jail cell.
Hamzy, who has been charged with 15 drug offences, appeared in Goulburn Local Court by video link at 10.15am (AEDT) on Monday.
No application was made on his behalf during a brief mention of the case.
Police have previously alleged he made more than 19,000 calls from inside Lithgow prison, west of Sydney, between May 1 and June 11 this year as he coordinated a drug operation.
He has been charged with seven counts of supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, one count of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, two counts of knowingly dealing in proceeds of crime, two counts of obtaining benefit by deception, and one count of participating in a criminal group.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie adjourned the matter to Burwood Local Court where Hamzy will appear by video link on February 11, 2009.
