Frank Perre, brother of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre, charged over drugs as Domenic’s son pleads guilty to offences
FRANK Perre, the brother of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre, has been charged with drug trafficking and production offences — as Domenic Perre’s son, Anthony, pleads guilty to other charges.
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THE brother of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre has been charged with serious drug offences following a search of his Riverland property that uncovered a hydroponic drug growing operation.
The Advertiser can reveal that Francesco “Frank” Perre has been charged with drug trafficking and drug cultivation after police allegedly discovered 13kg of dried cannabis and a grow room hidden on his property.
The revelation comes after it was revealed on Thursday that Domenic Perre’s son, Anthony Perre and Anthony’s wife, Emma Perre, had been charged following the discovery of a hidden drug bunker on their Waterloo Corner property.
Anthony Perre, 35, on Friday pleaded guilty to two charges — stealing electricity and possessing prescribed equipment — in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court in connection with the discovery.
Investigations by The Advertiser have discovered that Frank Perre, 56, has also been charged with possessing prescribed equipment found at a cannabis grow room on his Chaffey property, near Renmark, along with the trafficking and production charges.
He faces further charges of possessing prohibited Class C firearms following the discovery of a pump-action shotgun and a Bruno SLR rifle during the search.
Court documents reveal Perre’s wife, Rita Perre, 52, has also been charged with the same offences of cultivating cannabis, possessing proscribed equipment, trafficking in a commercial quantity of cannabis, possession of firearms and failing to keep firearms secured.
The pair will appear in Berri magistrates Court next month.
In Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Friday, Anthony Perre’s legal team formally entered guilty pleas to possession of drug equipment and stealing electricity.
The court heard he was “anxious” to receive his sentence as he now faces disbarment from the legal profession.
Anthony Perre has also been charged with firearms offences — including possession of illegal armour-piercing military ammunition.
The high-powered military ammunition was among a huge cache of 45,000 rounds police allege they found stored in a shed on his property at Curnow Rd, Waterloo Corner, in the outer northern suburbs.
Perre, who owns his own legal firm at Salisbury, pleaded guilty to possessing drug-growing equipment and diverting electricity. He faces a maximum two years in jail and a substantial fine.
Defence lawyer Lindy Powell QC asked Magistrate Yoong Fee Chin to sentence Perre immediately as he was “anxious to co-operate” and face his punishment “urgently” despite not attending court.
She said he faced far more serious consequences than others who pleaded guilty to similar crimes due to the implications for his career. The case was adjourned until next week.
Major Crime detectives are continuing their investigation into the 1994 National Crime Authority bombing that claimed the life of WA detective Geoffrey Bowen and severely injured lawyer Peter Wallis.
