Zara Ung asks Supreme Court to release her on bail to work for fathers business

The daughter of the owner of a popular karaoke bar who is facing serious drug charges has asked the state’s highest court that she be released to her father’s house.

Zara Ung has been charged trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and money laundering.

The daughter of the owner of a popular karaoke bar in Adelaide’s CBD has asked the supreme court for bail, with her defence counsel saying being under her father’s watchful eye is the best place for her.

Zara Ung, 34, wiped away tears in the Adelaide Supreme Court on Wednesday as the court heard how her “traumatic childhood” led her to being in abusive relationships.

“The safest for her and the safest and best place for the public is that she live with her father,” Mark Norman KC said.

“She was damaged and vulnerable through no fault of her own due to experiences in her childhood and youth.

“Most of her significant relationships have failed expect for the one with her father … she needs help.”

Jonathan Reed was refused bail earlier this month.

It is alleged Ms Ung and her co-accused Jonathan Reed, 40, had their Beverly property searched back in August, where police found more than $114k in cash, 150 grams of methamphetamine, one litre of fantasy, a small quantity of cocaine, electronic items suspected of being stolen and false identification documents.

At the first appearance in the Port Adelaide Magistrate Court, the court heard Ms Ung was previously sentenced for trafficking a controlled drug back in January 2020 as well as convictions for breaching bail.

The court also heard Mr Reed was on bail for other drug trafficking charges at the time of his arrest and he had finished a suspended jail term for drug trafficking just last year.

The court heard at the time of the search, all items were found in common areas of the house and Mr Reed stated the paraphernalia was his – however, no pleas have been entered at his time.

Mr Norman raised the concerns over the bail address, it being the apartment above the popular karaoke bar, but insisted Ms Ung won’t step foot in the licenced premesis.

“She will be able to assist with her fathers business from the home, working on the books, social media, the marketing,” he said.

“She needs the distraction of work and she can do that with her father.

“This is his business … if his daughter takes drugs on those premesis, his likelihood is at risk … she would not only betray the courts trust but she would be betraying her father.”

There is no suggestion the bar or Ms Ung’s father engaged in any wrongdoing.

The bail review application hearing is scheduled for later this week.