Hat-trick for turf king Damion Flower as bail denied for a third time

The highest court in NSW has denied turf king Damion Flower release almost a year after he was arrested and charged with masterminding a cocaine importation ring.

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Horse racing champion and alleged cocaine kingpin Damion Flower has been denied bail for a third time, with the state’s highest criminal court now refusing to release him.

Flower was arrested last May accused of masterminding dozens of cocaine importations with the help of a baggage handler at Sydney airport.

Damion Flower has been denied bail for a third time.

Police allege Oto O Junior Mafiti helped Flower by collecting drugs aboard flights from South Africa to Sydney some 45 times between 2016 and 2019.

The racetrack king was initially denied bail by the Local Court and broke down in tears in December when the NSW Supreme Court again refused his release from Long Bay.

Flower claimed the unwanted hat-trick on Wednesday when the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal also refused his release.

The highest criminal court in NSW did not publish its reasons but the decision, made by three justices including Chief Justice Tom Bathurst, was unanimous.

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Oto O Junior Mafiti (AKA John Mafiti) was allegedly using his airside access to import cocaine through the baggage holds of commercial flight.

Flower allegedly oversaw the importations by communicating with Mafiti in “crude” coded language.
When one cocaine haul allegedly arrived on March 15, Mafiti texted Flower saying: "check weight for jockey my brother … felt heavier” after a drop off at Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel occurred between the pair, the Crown alleges.

One month later Flower allegedly sent a message saying the “Christchurch Crusaders" had "smashed" another rugby team and gave the game score, which police claim matched the last three digits of a flight’s baggage container number.
Mafiti was later seen on CCTV footage taking a duffel bag from it.
Flower faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if found guilty.

Following the arrest of horse racing identity Damion Flower, AFP seized approximately $8 million in cash from a Hoxton Park property belonging to a 50-year-old man who is allegedly criminally linked to Flower.

Mafiti, in January, had his own shot at bail denied even after two of his mates offered up their homes – valued at $1.8 million – as surety.

The NSW Supreme Court feared he may use his connections at Sydney airport to flee, however.
Justice Mark Lerace SC said the very real prospect Mafiti will spend a long stint in jail provides a “strong motive” for him to flee the country or not attend court.
Their co-accused Ashoor Youkhana, who was allegedly arrested near Sydney Airport with 24 kilograms of coke in his car, was granted $1 million bail last year.
Flower is expected to face trial in early 2021.

Mafiti and Flower both face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted of a string of charges including commercial drug importation.

Youkhana was charged with commercial drug possession and dealing with the proceeds of crime.