Zac Sweeney: Water’s Edge cafe owner denied bail on drug charges

An alleged cocaine “dial-a-dealer” accused of flouting lockdown to deliver drugs around the Shire has argued he needs bail to run his cafe and play soccer.

A Cronulla restaurant owner who police allege was moonlighting as a cocaine “dial-a-dealer” has argued he needs to be on bail to run his business and take part in footy finals, a court has heard.

Caringbah man Zac Vincent Sweeney is facing commercial drug supply charges stemming from his alleged role in a syndicate which police say flouted Sydney’s lockdown rules to ferry cocaine around the city from May to July.

Sweeney, 29, runs Water’s Edge cafe in Cronulla with hospitality icon and former Georgie Porgie’s owner George Mikhail after leaving behind his career as a diesel mechanic.

The cafe – which only recently first opened – has remained closed ever since Sweeney’s arrest, with staff unsure about the business’ future.

Zac Sweeney, 29, owns Water’s Edge cafe in the Shire.

On Wednesday his barrister Alan Goldsworthy told Central Local Court Sweeney’s parents were willing to put up a property worth $500,000 to secure his release.

Police prosecutor sergeant Chris Manning argued that should be rejected because police allege Sweeney’s parents were caught on police wiretaps targeting their son and knew he was allegedly selling cocaine.

Mr Goldsworthy said Sweeney had a responsibility to employees who would likely lose their jobs if he remained in custody until the case went to trial or sentencing.

He also has a $200,000 loan from his father to pay back and sporting commitments that tie him to the local area.

Both his parents were barred from entering into the courthouse to support Sweeney as part of coronavirus restrictions.

Some of the items found by police after raids across Sydney in relation to the group.

“In his father’s reference he says he plays in a soccer team in the Hills district and is one of their better players,” Mr Goldsworthy said.

“They’re likely to be in finals in September of this year. There’s some months to play plus finals and he’s dedicated to that and that shows community ties.”

His legal team argued it would be hard to prove Sweeney supplied the drugs because, in one instance, an order for seven bags of cocaine police listened in on saw a man eventually arrested with six bags.

They also claimed Sweeney could not get his mental health treatment in jail.

Police located cocaine in the car of Sweeney, the court heard.

Sergeant Manning alleged there were still other people still out in the community involved in the drug operation waiting to be arrested that Sweeney could influence.

That, he said, combined with having him at home with his parents made it hard to believe they would dob him into cops and potentially lose their home if their son breached bail conditions.

“Not a lot of parents would call up and say ‘my son is breaching bail you need to send him to jail’,” Sgt Manning said.

The police case is relying heavily on intercepted phone calls and messages between Sweeney and other alleged dealers facing serious drugs charges.

Magistrate Mark Richardson said the case was “extremely serious” and “strong” as he denied Sweeney bail.

His case will next be heard in the same court later this year.