Michael Scott Hardy fronts Geelong court on drug trafficking charges

An alleged drug trafficker found with more than 14 times the trafficable quantity of ice and thousands of dollars in cash across two busts is fighting the charges.

Michael Scott Hardy leaving Geelong Magistrates Court.

An alleged drug dealer will fight trafficking charges after being nabbed twice in a week with large amounts of ice and thousands of dollars in cash.

Michael Scott Hardy, 33, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, facing drug trafficking charges in two matters after being busted with 43g of ice and $12,150 cash in a seven-day period.

The court heard Mr Hardy, who was supported in court by his mother and a friend, did not dispute possession of the drug, nor the amounts seized, but contested the trafficking charges.

Mr Hardy’s lawyer, Marina Yousif, argued the drugs were for personal use and the case was “circumstantial”.

“(There is) no evidence to suggest actual evidence of trafficking,” Ms Yousif said.

The court heard that on April 10 police found 15g of ice and $5850 in cash in the Thomson man’s bedroom.

Six days later, police found more cash and drugs after Mr Hardy allegedly left a laptop bag – containing 28g of meth and $6300 in cash – in a vehicle.

Further details of the alleged crimes were not aired in court.

The court heard Mr Hardy made a no comment interview in both cases.

The threshold for a trafficable quantity of ice in Victoria is 3g.

“And the argument’s going to be this was all for personal use?” Magistrate Peter Mellas asked Ms Yousif.

The court heard Mr Hardy was a self-employed painter and was paid in cash, and one client could provide, along with an invoice, a statutory declaration stating they’d paid him “some” of the $6300 seized.

Mr Mellas asked if Mr Hardy was GST-registered and declaring his income.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Mr Hardy sought a sentencing indication from Mr Mellas, who put it bluntly: “Jail with parole”.

“There’s the sentence indication, what are you going to do?” Mr Mellas asked Ms Yousif.

The matter was stood down so Mr Hardy could discuss the indication with his lawyer.

Mr Hardy opted to fight the charges and have the matter heard at a contested hearing.

He also told his lawyer he wanted the drugs to be further analysed for the “purity” the court heard.

Police prosecutor Kylie Jane told the court it would take at least six months for further testing to be completed.

The matter will return to court on March 11.

Originally published as Michael Scott Hardy fronts Geelong court on drug trafficking charges