Grandparents of accused drug dealer to deposit house for his bail
The grandparents of a muscled-up northern beaches man who flaunted his wealth on Instagram will have to deposit the title deeds of their home so he can be released on bail after he was arrested on serious drug supply charges.
The grandparents of a muscled-up northern beaches man who flaunted his wealth on Instagram will have to deposit the title deeds of their home so he can be released on bail after he was arrested on serious drug supply charges.
Aaron Waters, 26, who regularly posts photos online of his luxurious lifestyle with his glamorous partner Chay Wallace, 23, appeared via video link in Manly Local Court today after being charged with large commercial drug supply earlier this month.
Defence lawyer Jehane Ghabrial pushed for Waters to be released from custody, saying her client could deposit $60,000 through his swimming pool cleaning business along with Ms Wallace — who said she is “dumbfounded” by the allegations — depositing $50,000 as a surety.
Mrs Ghabrial also said Waters’ grandparents were prepared to deposit the title deeds of their Queensland home if this was not enough money.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Adrian Walsh opposed bail and rejected Mrs Ghabrial’s first offer given officers found 18 one-gram bags of cocaine, 1.3 kilos of MDMA, $104,000 in cash and Rolex watches allegedly connected to Waters in a series of raids in Manly and Collaroy Plateau.
“Some $104,000 in cash was found at the premises, what’s being proposed is pretty much that sum, which I would submit is not a large amount for a person charged with large commercial supply,” Sergeant Walsh said.
“I’d be more inclined to ask your honour to consider some other form of surety, i.e., the grandparents’ house.”
Magistrate Miranda Moody agreed to release Waters on bail due to his “strong community ties” but only if Ms Wallace deposited $50,000 and if his grandparents travelled from the Sunshine Coast to Tweed Local Court to hand over the title deeds to their home.
“I think having your grandparents’ title deeds as a surety … would be a significant deterrent (to breaching bail conditions),” she said.
In an affidavit tendered to the court, Ms Wallace said she was “dumbfounded by the allegations of supplying prohibited drugs that the police have made against Aaron”.
“While he did have a bump in the road last year when he possessed a very small amount of cocaine (0.269 grams which was weighed with the packaging), this was the only time Aaron has ever fallen foul of the criminal law,” she said.
When released on bail, Waters must live at the couple’s Collaroy Plateau home which they rent for $895 a week and report to Dee Why police station twice daily.
He can only leave the house for court, work or medical matters in the company of Ms Wallace and other immediate family members.
Sergeant Walsh said: “this is a very strong prosecution, there is significant surveillance and other evidence gained by the issue of warrants”.
“(It) involves significant quantities of prohibited drugs, if convicted it’s almost certain the accused would serve a full-time (term) of imprisonment,” he said.
Court documents on submissions for Waters’ release signed by Mrs Ghabrial said: “the allegations appear to involve significant surveillance over a significant period and monitoring of electronic communications and what appear to be cameras which were installed inside a storage unit”.
The matter will return to court in July.
Almost 500 new homes to be built over Sydney Olympic Metro
Almost 500 new homes will be built on the new Sydney Olympic Park Metro precinct with major construction set to begin after the site was finally approved by the NSW government.
Viral bishop defends free speech against new laws
The outspoken bishop stabbed at the pulpit for his political views has panned new misinformation laws.