Bondi MDMA drug case: More time needed to translate texts
The case of flashy eastern suburbs promoter accused of importing almost $1 million of MDMA from Switzerland is again facing delays, with a key piece of evidence yet to be handed over by officers who are still translating the material.
Wentworth Courier
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The case against a flashy Instagram promoter accused of importing 6kg of MDMA into Australia is again facing delays, with prosecutors still attempting to translate intercepted messages between him and his co-accused six-months after they were arrested.
Antonio D’amico, 24, is charged with importing $900,000 of the party drug after a major bust by Border Force officers in March, who located the illicit substance hidden in water filters arriving from Switzerland.
The drugs were allegedly intercepted on their way to the Italian national’s Bondi Junction home.
Commonwealth prosecutor Christina Choi today told the Central Local Court a partial brief, outlining the case against D’amico, had been served on his lawyer but three more weeks would be needed to translate the rest of the messages.
The cache of texts intercepted by police came to light in July during a previous court hearing.
“We’ve been waiting for quite some time and it is quite important material,” D’amico’s lawyer Andrew Herring said.
Appearing via video-link from the Shortland Correctional Facility near Newcastle, D’amico sat quietly as Magistrate Robert Williams adjourned the matter to be heard again later this year.
Prior to his arrest, the self-styled promoter lived a life of party complete with pictures of exotic holidays and flash designer bags across his social media.
His Instagram account is flooded with watches, leopard print jackets and Luis Vuitton bags.
After the bust, police searched for D’amico for a month before his arrest in May.
His co-accused Diego Ardimento is charged with attempting to import the drugs and has already pleaded not guilty at the Downing Centre.
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