Christian Wickremasinghe ‘delivery man’ in drug ring with Robert Melhem, court hears
The court case of a major drug ring’s delivery man has revealed links to a criminal enterprise involving a millionaire ex-Sea Eagles sponsor who once partied with the Manly players.
Central Sydney
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The “delivery man” for a multimillion-dollar drug ring involving ex-Manly Sea Eagles sponsor Robert Melhem was the type of person who just couldn’t say no to friends, a court has heard.
Christian Wickremasinghe was one of three men including Melhem who were arrested in dramatic raids by Strike Force Melinz on August 17, 2017, in which police seized 25kg of cocaine.
At a sentence hearing on Friday at Downing Centre District Court, the 42-year-old’s defence told Judge Antony Townsden his role was merely to “protect” his co-accused.
Wickremasinghe has pleaded guilty to counts of suppling an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and taking part in supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.
The former Wetherill Park motorcycle mechanic spent more than six years behind bars in New Zealand convicted of his part in importing 4kg of heroin in 2001, before returning home to Australia in 2008.
He appeared in the dock on Friday with tattoos visible on his neck and the back of his shaven head.
Greg James, QC, said his client “engaged knowingly” in the syndicate but did not have a “decision-making” role, and there was “no evidence” he was sharing in its profits.
Mr James said Wickremasinghe could be likened to the title character of 1968 Italian comedy film ‘The Girl Who Couldn’t Say No’, in that he always came through for his “associates”.
“He’s been engaged for the purpose of protecting the co-accused … he is the person taking the risk in delivering the drugs,” he said.
Having spent two years and three months in custody already, Mr James argued Wickremasinghe should be released as soon as possible as his rehabilitation was “in the community’s interest”.
The matter will return to court on December 6.
The court heard that Melhem, 45, and Michael McCarry, 48, were also arrested during the raids in August 2017, while a fourth man Joshua Burner, 29, later handed himself in to police.
Millionaire Melhem, who once partied in the sheds with Manly players following their NRL Grand Final successes, faces three counts supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, namely cocaine, pseudoephedrine and ephedrine.
The former mobile phone mogul and property developer has pleaded guilty to the charges, having been caught trying to strike a deal with an undercover cop.
McCarry pleaded guilty to charges including three counts of supplying an indictable amount of a prohibited drug, two of drug possession and one of supply commercial quantity of illegal drugs.
Burner will be sentenced for one charge of taking part in the supply of a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs.
Those three men remain in custody are set to appear for sentence hearings on December 17.
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