Prosecutions to proceed for dozens of AN0M accused charged in ‘sting of the century’
More than two dozen Victorians swept up in Australia’s largest police sting will soon face court after a High Court ruling cleared the way for AN0M evidence to be used against them. See the full list.
Dozens of accused criminals charged in the “sting of the century” after allegedly using the encrypted app AN0M will soon return to court after the prosecutions were given the green light to proceed.
More than four years after being charged, at least 29 men remain before the courts in Victoria, having awaited a crucial legal ruling.
The AFP and FBI secretly worked together for three years on AN0M to be able to decrypt and read millions of messages between users.
Android smartphones with AN0M installed were seeded to unsuspecting targets who were unaware the app was run by law enforcement agencies.
In June 2021, hundreds of arrests were laid across the country as part of the sting, dubbed Operation Ironside, before the app was revealed to be a ruse.
But two accused in South Australia, who cannot be named for legal reasons, challenged the admissibility of the evidence obtained by the covert police operation.
The men argued that the messages had been “unlawfully intercepted” and, therefore, could not be used as evidence – putting hundreds of prosecutions across the county at risk.
Both the trial judge and the Court of Appeal ruled against them, but they were willing to take their fight all the way to the High Court.
However, the federal government passed a new law, mandating that information obtained under warrants issued to the AFP was “lawfully obtained”.
The two men tried to argue that the law interfered with and undermined the “institutional integrity” of the courts, but the High Court dismissed their appeal.
South Australia Police made 55 new arrests off the back of the ruling that confirmed that the messages can legally be used as evidence.
But it remains possible that fresh legal challenges are lodged on different bases.
Back in Victoria, while some of the accused remain on remand, many have been granted bail, especially given the delays they were facing.
Danny Zayneh, accused of being the Australian head of a transnational organised crime syndicate, was one of the last to win bail in July last year on his fourth attempt.
In 2023 and 2024, dozens of accused faced committal hearings in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where the evidence against them was tested for the first time.
Most of them – including the following 29 men – were ordered to stand trial, with their cases transferred to the County Court.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
George Afeaki
Transferred to the County Court on charges related to drug trafficking.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Soner Akkus
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine and trafficking cocaine, among other offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Youssef Alateyeh
Transferred to the County Court on a charge of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
His matter will return to court for a directions hearing on December 8.
Abdullah Arslan
Transferred to the County Court on charges of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and trafficking cocaine.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Sebastian Bezborodoff
Transferred to the County Court on charges of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Michael Bitsaya
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine, among other drug offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Mark Buddle
Transferred to the County Court on charges of importing a border controlled drug (cocaine) and conspiring to import a border controlled drug (cocaine).
His matter will return to court for a directions hearing on December 8.
Leslie Cain
Transferred to the County Court on a charge of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug (cocaine).
His matter will return to court for a directions hearing on December 8.
Edward Cannobbio
Transferred to the County Court on a charge of attempting to possess a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug (cocaine).
His matter will return to court for a directions hearing on December 8.
Omar Dib
Transferred to the County Court on charges of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug (methylamphetamine) and trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Ross Finnigan
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine, MDMA and methylamphetamine, among other drug offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Xavier Gavin
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine, ketamine and MDMA, among other drug offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Mark Joannou
Transferred to the County Court on a charge of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug (methylamphetamine), among other offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Joe Kasalo
Transferred to the County Court on a charge of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug (methylamphetamine).
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Donald Kotini
Transferred to the County Court on a charge of cultivating a marketable quantity of cannabis.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Graeme Lench
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of MDMA and negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime.
His matter will return to court on February 11.
Steven Lench
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of MDMA and possessing MDMA.
His matter will return to court on February 11.
Raymond Mather
Transferred to the County Court on charges relating to the proceeds of crime.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Avdi Molla
Transferred to the County Court on a charge of cultivating a marketable quantity of cannabis, among other offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Tevita Ofahengaue
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine and cocaine.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Patrick O’Kelly
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Robin Reffo
Transferred to the County Court on charges of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug (methylamphetamine) and trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, among other offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Daniel Sequenzia
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine, among other drug offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Christian Taumoefolau
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine and methylamphetamine, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and arson.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
James Theodoridis
Transferred to the County Court on charges of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and possessing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Steven Tiburcy
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine, MDMA, amphetamine and ketamine.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Muhammed Topal
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of amphetamine and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, among other offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Faigofie Tufuga
Transferred to the County Court on charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine and trafficking a commercial quantity of cocaine, among other drug offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 16.
Danny Zayneh
Transferred to the County Court on charges of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug (methylamphetamine) and trafficking a large commercial quantity of amphetamine, among other offences.
His matter will return to court for a mention on December 10.
Originally published as Prosecutions to proceed for dozens of AN0M accused charged in ‘sting of the century’
