Mark Adam Freer jailed for aggravated theft, fabricating evidence

An army veteran and former lawyer was a guinea pig in an experimental drug trial while in active service, allegedly impacting his choice to later defraud his family, a court has heard.

An army veteran and former lawyer who ripped off his family was an experimental malaria drug guinea pig while on active service in East Timor, a court has heard.

The apparent impacts of the drug, however, did not deter Judge Paul Slattery from imprisoning Craigmore man Mark Adam Freer while his wheelchair-bound wife Kerry sat watching from the body of the court.

The court heard the result of the drug testing was the reduced cognitive function of Mark Adam Freer, which impacted his choice to steal tens of thousands of dollars from his aunty and cousin under the guise he was helping them.

Nick Vadasz, for Freer, told the Adelaide District Court the ongoing effect of the drug – mefloquine – had continued from when his client was first dosed with it during a drug trial in 2000.

“Ever since he was subject to the mefloquine experiment life has been downhill from there,” Mr Vadasz said.

Mark Freer pleaded guilty to aggravated theft and fabricating evidence. Picture: Matt Turner

The court heard Freer had presented evidence to a 2018 Senate inquiry into the impacts of the drug, which concluded there was inadequate evidence to determine whether or not the side effects were legitimate.

Freer – who rose to the rank of warrant officer during his 22 years in the military – is the primary carer for his wife, who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and is unable to walk without aid.

When Judge Slattery told the court her husband would be imprisoned, she broke down in tears.

Later, a court sheriff wheeled her about 100 metres to her car so she could drive off.

Freer was found guilty by trial for defrauding his aunty and cousin to the tune of a combined $82,500 between 2014 and 2015 which he spent on groceries, rent and at The Good Guys and Officeworks.

With Freer having now pleaded guilty to aggravated theft and fabricating evidence, prosecutor Michael Foundas, told the court time behind bars was inevitable.

Mark Freer’s wife Kerry Freer, who has MS, is helped to their car by a court sheriff and drove away by herself home after her husband was remanded in custody. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tricia Watkinson

The court sheriff pushes Mark Freer’s wife Kerry to her car. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tricia Watkinson

He told the court Freer had significantly abused his position as a lawyer to enable his criminal ways and a bail agreement entered into him on his other charges should be revoked.

“This is very serious offending,” he said,

“ Mr Freer abused his position – a very trusted position in our community as a legal practitioner.

“He defrauded a relative of a significant sum of money.

“(And) there is the additional offence of swearing a false affidavit.

“The nature of this offending and the circumstances of the offending are such that, notwithstanding whatever Mr Freer’s personal circumstances are, they will not outweigh the need for a sentence of imprisonment.”

Judge Slattery agreed.

With his shirt tucked into his underwear, Freer gestured to his distraught wife before being led away to prison.