Alleged Comanchero bikie gang associate Andrew Hallam granted bail

A man alleged to have ties to the Comanchero bikie gang has spent 18 months behind bars on remand. Find out why he got bail.

Andrew Hallam when he was arrested following a Strike Force Sulfur investigation in September 2022. Picture: NSW Police

An alleged bikie associate has secured bail on major drugs charges, partly because of what a magistrate has described as an “unedifying circus” behind bars.

But Andrew Hallam, 26, will not leave a central western NSW jail until his family deposits a $1.2 million surety to secure his release.

Hallam, of Jerrabomberra, pleaded not guilty to six charges when he faced Queanbeyan Local Court via audiovisual link from Macquarie Correctional Centre on Tuesday.

The charges include supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, which carries a maximum penalty of life in jail, and participating in a criminal group.

Hallam had been behind bars on remand since September 2022, when Strike Force Sulfur detectives arrested him and three other men over their alleged involvements in a cross-border cocaine supply syndicate with links to the Comanchero bikie gang.

Police raided a series of properties on both sides of the NSW-ACT border at the time, seizing drugs, guns, outlaw motorcycle gang paraphernalia and almost $70,000 in cash.

Comanchero paraphernalia seized by police during raids in September 2022. Picture: NSW Police

Seeking Hallam’s release on Tuesday, defence barrister John Davidson said the Crown case was not strong, there had been unacceptable delays, and bail conditions could address any risks.

Mr Davidson took particular aim at the strength of evidence that is alleged to identify Hallam as a member of the syndicate.

Prosecutor Bec Winder accepted the Crown case was circumstantial but rejected suggestions it was weak, telling the court police had secretly monitored Hallam for months.

She said he had been named in a covert recording as someone who was “going to take over” the syndicate, and he had also been observed meeting with high-ranking bikies.

Ms Winder added that two men had pleaded guilty to charges relating to the drug supply network, with one agreeing to a statement of facts that named Hallam as a member.

While Ms Winder argued Hallam had failed to establish any reason his ongoing detention was not justified, magistrate Roger Clisdell disagreed.

Explaining his reasons, Mr Clisdell referred extensively to an affidavit prepared by defence solicitor Andrew Herring.

The magistrate said there were so many covert recordings in this case, Mr Herring would have to sit in prison with Hallam for about three weeks to go through them all properly.

An item seized during Strike Force Sulfur raids in September 2022. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Clisdell added that the issue was made even worse by the fact Mr Herring had been told he could not take his laptop inside to tackle this task when he had attended the jail.

“The whole thing becomes a rather unedifying circus,” the magistrate said.

Mr Clisdell also said Hallam faced the prospect of spending about three-and-a-half years on remand if he remained in custody, with the process of sifting through “voluminous” evidence contributing to delays that meant his trial was unlikely to occur any earlier than late 2025.

He accordingly granted bail, imposing a series of terms that included the surety condition.

The court heard the $1.2 million surety would be sourced from real estate assets owned by Hallam’s father, with whom the 26-year-old will live while on bail.

Hallam’s bail conditions also include what Mr Clisdell described as a “Clayton’s house arrest”, with the accused man only allowed to leave home for limited purposes.

These include work, reporting to police, meetings with lawyers, and medical appointments.

In addition to granting bail, Mr Clisdell committed Hallam to the Queanbeyan District Court for trial on the six charges he has denied.

Ms Winder withdrew four more charges, while two others will travel to the District Court as related matters.

Hallam’s case is due back in court in April.