NCA bombing suspect’s son, lawyer Anthony Perre, admits guilt over drug raid charges
PROMINENT northern suburbs lawyer Anthony Perre — the son of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre — has admitted charges linked to the discovery of an elaborate underground drug-growing bunker hidden at his home.
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PROMINENT northern suburbs lawyer Anthony Perre — the son of NCA bombing suspect Domenic Perre — has admitted charges linked to the discovery of an elaborate underground drug-growing bunker hidden at his home.
In the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Friday, 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.
The Advertiser on Friday revealed how Perre, 35, 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 local legal firm, pleaded guilty to possessing drug-growing equipment and diverting electricity.
He faces a maximum two years in jail and a substantial fine.
The charges stem from a police raid on Perre’s property by Drug Investigation Branch detectives, after they received intelligence that indicated hydroponic cannabis was allegedly being cultivated there.
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.
“This is the first time this matter has come before Your Honour and already Mr Perre is entitled to a 40 per cent discount,” she said.
“There could not be a better example of why he would be entitled to it.
“You would have seen the front page of The Advertiser. Many of us would have.
“For this man obviously what he is — and Your Honour would understand this in your capacity as a magistrate and former legal practitioner … what this man is awaiting of him is far more serious than anything Your Honour can (hand down) in terms of the maximum penalty of this particular jurisdiction.
“What he wants to do is to have this matter dealt with and face what he needs to face in terms of his professional situation.”
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.