University student Kloudia George, girlfriend of jailed Olevar Merza, charged with dealing with proceeds of crime

A Western Sydney nursing student accused of receiving over $150,000 in dirty money from her jailbird boyfriend has tried to lift court orders banning them from contacting each other.

Kloudia George leaves Downing Centre Local Court.

A Western Sydney nursing student accused of possessing more than $150,000 in dirty money, allegedly sent from behind bars by her boyfriend, has tried to lift court orders banning them from contacting each other.

Wetherill Park woman Kloudia George, 25, fronted Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday charged with two counts of knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, and dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime.

The charges relate to amounts of $152,437 and $28,300 allegedly transferred into George’s bank, along with a MacBook Pro.

It is alleged the money and laptop were proceeds of crime which had been sent to George by her jailed boyfriend Olevar Merza.

Merza, 34, has been in custody since 2016 over his involvement in the near-fatal stabbing of a 14-year old-boy, with the two starting a relationship in 2018.

Merza was in John Morony Correctional Complex.

In relation to the current matters, Merza is charged with knowingly directing criminal activities, two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, two counts of drug possession, one count of using a mobile phone into a place of detention, and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

On Tuesday, George sought to have a non-association order removed which banned any contact between her and Merza.

It is alleged while in custody at John Morony in Sydney’s west, Merza and George were in frequent contact via a burner phone, exchanging an “overwhelming amount of messages”.

The 60-page Crown bundle included references to Merza opening accounts and making transactions as well as “handwritten ledgers” found during a search of his cell.

George’s solicitor Kiki Kyriacou proposed contact could be allowed on the condition they spoke in English, not Assyrian.

Mr Kyriacou also said the Crown needed to prove George’s involvement further than just receiving money.

The matter was heard in the Downing Centre courthouse. Picture: AAP

“The Crown case is Mr Merza is selling drugs in custody,” Mr Kyriacou said.

“There’s no suggestion that’s been related to Ms George. She believes there’s a legitimate online business.

“The Crown has to establish she was aware the money was proceeds of crime, and they need to specify the crime.”

Mr Kyriacou also said there was no evidence of Merza dealing drugs aside from what was found in his cell, which his cellmate had admitted were his own.

Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis said it would be “an enormous operation” for authorities to monitor the pair’s communication to ensure they were only speaking in English.

“An enormous number of messages between the two of them, whether they are professing they’re undying love or if he’s providing her with directions about what to do with money … all of this comes through the unlawful use of the mobile phone,” he said.

Mr Tsavdaridis refused the bail variation, citing risks of witness or evidence interference.

“This application has all the hallmarks of attempting to legitimise contact between the two in circumstances where an overwhelming amount of messages are taking the prosecution case at its highest,” he said

“To my mind there is a risk of potential harm and risk to the integrity of the system.”

Their matters will return to court on June 17.
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