Chantelle Kaldi pleads guilty to MDMA and LSD possession

A festival goer was caught with two drugs she was going to share with a friend at an alternative music celebration just south of Ipswich.

A FESTIVAL enthusiast heading to a music festival near Ipswich was busted by police with drugs before she had even gone through the entry gate, a court has heard.

Despite publicised warnings that police officers would be checking for drugs, the woman was picked up at Peak Crossing when her car was intercepted on its way to the Earth Frequency Festival at Ivory’s Rock.

Among the drug finds was the cache held by Chantelle Kaldi, the Ipswich Magistrates Court heard when she appeared for sentence on drug offences.

Chantelle Kaldi, 34, from Surfers Paradise pleaded guilty to two charges of being in unlawful possession of the illicit drugs LSD and MDMA at Peak Crossing on May 14.

The police prosecutor said Kaldi had 2.6 grams of a brown coloured crystal substance said to be MDMA and 15 LSD tablets in foil.

Kaldi had no criminal history and this was her first time before the court. Police accepted there was no commerciality involved.

Defence lawyer Mr Jackson said Kaldi was on her way to a five day music festival when stopped by road blocks the police had set up to check for drugs.

“She was intending to share with a friend over the five days. It was personal use. And she has no history,” Mr Jackson said.

Mr Jackson argued she should receive a bond with no conviction recorded against her because of her good record.

Magistrate David Shepherd said it was quite concerning to have 15 LSD tablets and the quantity of MDMA even if she intended sharing.

“They were not likely to see much of the concert with that were they,” he said.

“Perhaps not,” Mr Jackson said.

Mr Shepherd said Kaldi was a person who had not been in this position before, who had learnt very clearly that what she did was wrong.

“If you have a problem with drugs that needs to be addressed, you have the intelligence to do that and to get things working for you,” Mr Shepherd warned.

He fined Kaldi $750. No conviction was recorded against her.