Ex-Bandido Brent Luke Simpson says he thought alleged cannabis oil was above board
A former Bandidos sergeant-at-arms and creator of popular podcast The Clink accused of selling cannabis oil online claims he didn’t know it was illegal. >> FULL DETAILS
Police & Courts
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A FORMER Bandidos sergeant-at-arms accused of selling cannabis oil says he thought the product was above board, a court was told.
Brent Luke Simpson was on Thursday arrested after police allegedly found about $373,000 in cash, cocaine, a drug press and 60 vials of cannabis oil, an air rifle and an encrypted mobile phone in seven raids across the Gold Coast.
Simpson was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of supply dangerous drugs, two counts of possess dangerous drugs and possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.
The father-of-four and creator of popular podcast The Clink was a business partner of Releaf Therapies which sold the alleged drugs.
Co-accused Eden Christopher Gall was the director of the company and faces a charge of trafficking dangerous drugs.
Simpson was on Monday granted bail in the Southport Magistrates Court after police failed to produce a certificate of analysis showing the quantity of cannabidiol in the product.
The court was told two creams bought by undercover officers were tested in May.
However, the certificate of analysis only showed there was allegedly cannabis oil present in the product, not a percentage.
Magistrate Ron Kilner said: “Quite frankly, I don’t think it’s terribly helpful when you’re alleging a life imprisonment offence and you can’t even give me the percentage of cannabis or cannabidiol that’s contained within the cream.”
Defence lawyer Michael McMillan, of Mark Savic Legal, said his client bought the product from America and claimed he was unaware it contained cannabis oil.
“He says the product he purchased was purchased on the footing that there was no schedule 2 drug in there,” Mr McMillan said.
“He was operating on that presumption, and it seems if you look at his social media posts and the like, he was pretty brazen about it. He wasn’t making any attempts to conceal his conduct so it sits fairly well with his instructions.
“It’s one of those ones where these newly decriminalised drugs are being spread into the community and I’m not sure everyone knows what’s in them.”
Simpson was granted bail under the conditions he did not contact Gall, surrendered his passport, reported to Broadbeach police station five days a week, stayed within 5km of his Palm Beach property and did not leave the state.
His case was adjourned to the same court on August 24.
Ex-bikie’s alleged links to $373k cash and cannabis oil
August 6, 2021
POLICE allege a former Bandidos sergeant-at-arms is behind a Gold Coast company allegedly selling cannabis oil over the internet.
Brent Simpson was arrested on Thursday after police netted $373,000 in cash, cocaine, a drug press, 60 vials of cannabis oil, an air rifle and an encrypted mobile phone in seven raids across the Gold Coast.
The cash was allegedly found at the workplace of Simpson’s business partner, Eden Christopher Gall.
The Southport Magistrates Court was told on Friday that Gall was the director of Releaf Therapies, the business selling the alleged drugs.
However, Gall’s lawyer questioned whether the drug being sold contained the alleged cannabis oil and if Gall knew.
Simpson, from Palm Beach, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of supply dangerous drugs, possession (major) of dangerous drugs and two counts of possession (minor) of dangerous drugs.
He did not apply for bail on Friday and the matter was adjourned to Monday.
Gall was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs.
Prosecutor Jade Goodburn told the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday that due to the large amount of cash found there “would be concerns about the risk of him fleeing the jurisdiction”.
Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said there was no risk of Gall fleeing overseas due to closed borders and “difficulty leaving the front door” due to lockdown.
Mr Gatenby said it was not clear if the drug sold was listed as an illegal drug.
He also said there was also no evidence that the cash was not from legitimate purposes.
Gall has an earthmoving business that employed five people.
Mr Gatenby said Gall’s wife died of cancer in 2016 and Gall now lives with his son, his new partner and their children.
Magistrate Dowse granted Gall bail with conditions including he report to police twice a week, surrender his passport and live in his residential address.
The matter was adjourned to August 31.
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