Seong Weng Leong charged with attempting to smuggle methamphetamine and Suboxone into Yatala prison

A man accused of attempting to smuggle drugs into South Australia’s most notorious prison has faced court for the first time. Find out how he responded.

A man has faced court for the first time after allegedly attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into a South Australian prison.

Seong Weng Leong, 51, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, with his lawyer flagging he’d likely be entering guilty pleas to the charges.

Officers from the Police Corrections Team and Department for Correctional Services arrested Mr Leong on July 31 for allegedly introducing a prohibited item into a correctional institution, namely Yatala Prison.

The items are believed to be orange Suboxone strips and a substance suspected of being methamphetamine.

Seong Leong is charged with possessing a prescribed item. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

At the time, Detective Chief Inspector Naomi Oberscheidt, Officer in Charge of the Offender Management Section, Public Protection Branch said SAPOL and the Department for Correctional Services work together to prevent illicit drugs being introduced into prisons.

“We conduct operations targeting visitors who think they can bring drugs into jails,” she said.

“You run a strong chance of being caught if you choose to take the risk.
“This seizure at Yatala Prison is indicative of our joint commitment to prevent the introduction of drugs and other contraband into prisons.”

Mr Leong, of Prospect, is charged with four offences, including introducing a prescribed item and possessing a controlled drug.

On Monday, Caroline Tassone, for Mr Leong, asked the court to adjourn the charges for negotiations but said her client was intimating guilty pleas.

A prosecutor asked for a ten-month adjournment so a full analysis of the drugs could occur.

The prosecutor said negotiations could occur between now and then, and the charges may be able to resolve in the Magistrates jurisdiction rather than the District Court.

Magistrate Aaron Almeida adjourned the charges for six months until March.

Originally published as Seong Weng Leong charged with attempting to smuggle methamphetamine and Suboxone into Yatala prison