Matthew Worth: Alleged Berala rave drug gang member bailed
After almost four months in custody, an alleged member of a party drug syndicate has been bailed to live with his sick mother and father.
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A man charged over his part in an alleged raver drug syndicate has been granted bail to live with his sick mother.
Matthew Worth has been in custody since his arrest on March 4 for his alleged part in a widespread MDMA and LSD operation, alongside seven co-accused.
Despite his lack of criminal record and an offer by his solicitor to live at home and observe a curfew, the Berala man was denied bail at Sutherland Local Court in March after the Crown alleged he was “an important component in that drug supply chain”.
The Crown also argued against bail on Tuesday in the Supreme Court citing concerns Worth would fail to appear at future court dates and his potential to commit further serious offences.
Worth is facing three counts of drug supply, including 52.5g of MDMA, 153g of GBL and 0.016g of acid, dating back to August 2019, which his lawyer Ahmed Dib told the court today he is likely to plead guilty to.
Worth is also charged with possessing the property proceeds of crime after police allegedly found him in possession of $820 cash during his arrest, as well as participating in a criminal group, charges which are currently under negotiation, the court heard on Tuesday.
He was granted bail on the condition the 25-year-old will be under full supervision of his parents.
The court heard his ill mother spends her days at the Berala home where Worth must reside, and his father will be putting him to work at his bread delivery business.
“You’re lucky to have your parents back you up and support you,” Justice Julia Lonergan told him.
Justice Lonergan said she did not require a surety from his family after the court heard they were “financially-strained”.
Part of Worth’s bail conditions included abstaining from drug use and avoiding contact with his co-accused and friend James Calleja.
On March 4, police carried out raids at properties in Leumeah, Cabramatta, Campsie, Berala, Fairfield and Macquarie Park, arresting six men and two women.
Judge Lonergan described Worth’s alleged role in the syndicate as a “level above” a drug runner.
Mr Dib told the court his “family invested a lot of time and effort” in their son.
His dream of finishing university, the court heard, was cut short due to health issues.
He then “mal-adaptively dealt with” losing his job at a garage door installation business in March “by way of consumption of drugs”.
Worth will report to Auburn Police Station daily and return to Central Local Court on July 20.