Ben Aulich: Michael Papandreato contest conspiracy charges

A man allegedly recruited into a scheme to hide the dirty money of a fictitious underworld figure has been hit with a new charge.

The Canberra accountant who was allegedly recruited into a scheme to hide the dirty money of a fictitious underworld figure has been hit with a fresh charge, and will soon be handed reams of evidence from the major police probe into him and his co-accused.

Michael Anthony Papandrea, 54, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday where he was formally charged with taking part in a criminal conspiracy.

Mr Papandrea’s lawyer, Kamy Saeedi, said his client would be pleading not guilty to the fresh charge.

Mr Papandrea is co-accused with Canberra lawyers, Ben Aulich and Brigid Harders, also known as Bridie Harders.

Canberra accountant Michael Anthony Papandrea (right) leaves the ACT Magistrates Court with defence lawyer Kamy Saeedi. Picture: Craig Dunlop

Crown prosecutor Skye Jerome told the court she would soon hand over reams of documents detailing the case against Mr Papandrea, including a 40-page statement from an undercover cop, who posed as a phony client of Aulich and Harders.

The trio knew the cop only by his cover identity Alex Terosian.

Ms Jerome also withdrew previous money laundering, proceeds of crime and criminal recruiting charges.

Ms Jerome said the evidence also included recordings and transcripts of eight bugged conversations with Mr Papandrea and the undercover cop.

Ben Aulich, 47, and Bridie Harders, 35, leave the ACT Magistrates Court. They deny allegations they have been involved in organised crime. Picture: Craig Dunlop

The court heard there would be the equivalent of “multiple” ring binders of evidence in the case against Mr Papandrea.

Few details of the case against Mr Aulich, Ms Harders and Mr Papandrea have been made public since their arrests just before Christmas, but the allegations, broadly, involve a supermarket in Queanbeyan being used to “legitimise large quantities of cash”.

Mr Papandrea returns to court on Wednesday where he is expected to apply to have his bail conditions eased.

He will also return to court in late April.

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