Elie Khoury, alleged drug “kingpin”, laundered $4 million through an online betting account, court told
An alleged drug “kingpin” laundered $4 million – about $100,000 a week – through an online betting account, a court has heard, as he lost his bid to be released on home detention bail.
North & North East
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The alleged “kingpin” of an multimillion-dollar drug trafficking gang laundered $4m through his online betting account and has an extensive criminal history interstate, a court has heard.
The Supreme Court yesterday quashed Elie Khoury’s bid to be let out of custody on home detention bail – overturning a decision of the Adelaide Magistrates Court this week to bail him.
It can also now be revealed the 33-year-old Wynn Vale man was convicted of trafficking nearly 41kg of cannabis in Queensland in 2012.
He was let out on parole, which he later had transferred to South Australia where he was again sentenced for drug trafficking last year – that time for 169g of methamphetamine.
Prosecutor Benjamin Lodge told the court Khoury’s most recent alleged offending – for which he is facing charges of money laundering, drug trafficking and dishonestly dealing with property – occurred while he was on home detention and parole for the 2019 conviction.
Khoury is alleged to be the leader of a criminal organisation – of which police have so far found 11 alleged members – that trafficked in up to $20 million of methamphetamine and cannabis and laundered similar amounts of money.
Mr Lodge told the court that Khoury laundered $4 million – or about $100,000 a week – through an online betting account.
He alleged that Khoury owned a tiling business, but had lodged tax returns in recent years declaring income of about $18,000.
Mr Lodge said the money Khoury allegedly gambled could not have come “from a legitimate source”.
He said Khoury had lied to parole officers about attending worksites as a tiler when he was actually visiting the properties of gang associates.
He also alleged Peter John Stevens – who was last week arrested following a raid of his Virginia property – was second-in-charge of the group.
Khoury’s counsel, Heath Barclay QC, told the court there was “no evidence” that his client had “laundered” money through his online betting account.
He said evidence provided to the court about Khoury’s association with other people who had been arrested for drug-related crimes did not prove he was connected to the alleged offences in any way.
He said the “dearth of evidence” required a “leap of faith” to be accepted as a reason to deny Khoury bail.
Justice David Peek said Khoury had a “very serious criminal record” when it came to drug trafficking and he had been “treated remarkably leniently” by the legal system.
He said Khoury had “actively and deliberately” broken his bail conditions on 11 occasions, had “clearly abused” his previous home detention conditions and had “manifest” disregard for them.
Justice Peek said he could not have “any confidence” Khoury would “abstain from further criminal behaviour” if released on bail.
The matter is set to return to court mid next year.