Operation Ironside: multiple accused appear in court seeking release on home detention bail

An interstate man arrested as part of the AN0M stings will remain in jail despite offering an “extraordinary” bail surety, an SA court has ruled.

An accused drug trafficker arrested in NSW as part of Operation Ironside has been refused bail despite offering his parents’ $1.5m Sydney property and $200,000 in cash as a bail surety.

Andrew Paul Sankey, 43, is charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug at Yamba in April and May this year.

During bail hearings on Thursday for numerous people arrested as part of Operation Ironside, the Adelaide Magistrates Court heard Mr Sankey was seeking bail to return to Sydney.

David Edwardson QC, for Mr Sankey, said his client could lodge a $200,000 cash surety with the court, while his parents had agreed to put their $1.5m property on the line to secure their son’s release from custody.

But prosecutors told the court a mobile phone found in an entertainment unit in Mr Sankey’s home, in the Sydney suburb of Rhodes, was linked to messages on the AN0M platform.

Police were secretly monitoring the platform and allege some messages link him to the drug trafficking offence. They allege his username on the app was “kingpin”.

Mr Edwardson said that, despite the prosecution allegations, the phone was not physically found on Mr Sankey and prosecutors had not said if anyone else lived at the home.

He said there was a question over whether his client was the owner of the phone and could be identified as the person sending the messages.

Ironside accused Angus Spurling, pictured outside court, is charged with manufacturing a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

“There is no analysis at all, or any evidence, that actually shows how they can connect the handle (kingpin) specifically to my client,” Mr Edwardson said.

“With the presumption of bail in his favour, the presumption of innocence in his favour and the extraordinary amount of cash surety he’s prepared to put up, bail is appropriate.”

Mr Edwardson said a lengthy delay before any trial, which was unlikely before the end of next year, should also fall in his favour.

Magistrate John Wells said it was “a long time to wait” but refused Mr Sankey bail “with some hesitation”.

“The basis (for refusal) is the seriousness of the allegations and the risk of interfering with the ongoing investigations,” Mr Wells said.

In a separate and unrelated hearing, Angus Spurling, who last week had his home-detention bail conditions removed, was granted permission to travel interstate for work – as long as he took a grandparent with him.

Mr Spurling is charged with manufacturing a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug over his alleged involvement in a drug lab found at Morphett Vale.

Prosecutors previously told the court the lab was linked to Operation Ironside and “one of the largest uncovered by SA Police in recent times”.

Gilbert Aitken, for Mr Spurling, said his client’s grandparents were prepared to supervise him during his travel to and from Melbourne “to make sure that nothing, absolutely nothing, goes awry”.

$1.8 million cash seized on June 8 during Operation Ironside South Australian arrests. Picture: NCA NewsWire.

Prosecutors opposed the application, saying “no condition would be enough to mitigate the risk” Mr Spurling, 22, of Lockleys, could flee.

Mr Wells granted the variation, allowing Mr Spurling to travel for work if accompanied by a grandparent and set a $25,000 guarantee, which his grandparents must pay if he breached his bail conditions.

“Do not disobey any of your bail conditions in any way,” Mr Wells said.

“If you do, you will go back into jail and that is where you will stay and your grandmother will lose $25,000.”

In a further, separate hearing, Mr Wells refused a request from Operation Ironside accused Silvio Molinara, 54, of Stirling, to ease his home-detention bail conditions.

Mr Molinara is accused of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a controlled drug in Adelaide in August and September last year.

Andrew Moffa, for Mr Molinara, said his client needed to make deliveries to keep his charcoal business afloat.

But prosecutors said his bail conditions already allowed him to attend his workplace without being monitored.

Ironside accused Silvio Molinara is accused of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a controlled drug in Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Numerous other accused who were arrested for other offences during the Operation Ironside police sting were granted release on home-detention bail.

Each of the defendants was placed on strict conditions, including that they only own one mobile phone and provide it, and any passwords, to police on request.

Stamati Nikolaos Toulantas, 24, of Park Holme, was among those granted release on home-detention bail.

He is yet to enter a plea to a charge of trafficking in a controlled drug but pleaded guilty to separate charges of possessing a prohibited weapon, which the court heard was a baton, and possessing a prescription drug without a prescription.

Mr Wells convicted him of those offences but did not impose any further penalty given the time he has spent in custody.

Dalibor Drazetic, 47, of Wayville, was released on home-detention bail with conditions including that he not contact two co-accused. He is charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug at Port Wakefield on April 6 this year.

Wayne Thomas Spinks, 36, of Uleybury, was also granted release on home-detention bail. He is charged with knowingly engaging in money laundering.

Separately, a Rosewater man, 31, was granted release on home-detention bail with three guarantors and offered his parents western suburbs property worth up to $800,000 as surety. That man is charged with money laundering an amount of more than $250,000.

Mr Wells warned each of the men not to disobey their bail conditions or they would return to custody. “You are being given a significant chance today, don’t blow it,” Mr Wells said.

Each of the accused are due back in court later this year.