Man charged after AFP Operation Kraken released on bail

The second South Australian man charged after a nationwide AFP operation has learned his bail fate.

The second South Australian man charged over the AFP’s nationwide Operation Kraken has been released on home detention bail, with strict conditions not to contact three other people.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, Sahand Sabermanesh thanked Magistrate Ben Sale who agreed to release him on strict home detention bail.

Mr Sabermanesh, 39 of Torrens Park, was in Brisbane when his home was raided by officers from the Australian Federal Police earlier last week, but he flew home as soon as he received word of the investigation.

Upon his arrival in Adelaide, he was charged as part of the AFP’s nationwide Operation Kraken – an investigation which targeted sellers and users of a new encrypted criminal communications app called ‘Ghost’.

Sahand Sabermanesh, 39, is the second South Australian charged with drug offences over the encrypted ‘Ghost’ app sting. Picture: 7NEWS

The AFP said during the search at Mr Sabermanesh’s home, investigators allegedly located 440g of methamphetamine, 2.2kg of sodium borohydride and 27.2kg of methylamine – both of which are precursor substances used in the manufacturing of illicit drugs.

In court documents, police allege that between March 10 and September 17 this year, Mr Sabermanesh had been trafficking in large commercial quantities of both cocaine and methamphetamine.

Last week, Michael Woods, for Mr Sabermanesh asked Mr Sale to release his client on home detention bail, with a report into the suitability ordered.

He also said his client appeared to only have played a minor “delivery” type role in the alleged offending.

“The home detention report is suitable,” Mr Woods told the court on Thursday.

Mr Sale agreed to release him, but said he would need to surrender any passports to the court, and be fitted with an electronic monitoring device before he is released from custody.

Commonwealth prosecutor Danielle Thomas however asked Mr Sale to impose conditions that Mr Sabermanesh not contact three people.

Items seized during a raid of a Torrens Park home by the AFP. Picture: AFP

Items seized during a raid of a Torrens Park home by the AFP. Picture: AFP

Mr Sabermanesh was the second man arrested in South Australia over the Operation, appearing in court just days after well known Adelaide personality Jack Sauer was arrested.

No other South Australian arrests in relation to the matter have been made.

“Mr Sabermanesh, I’ll give you this word of advice,” Mr Sale said.

“It may be that this matter continues for a very long time. Home detention bail is referred to as bail of last resort, which means that if you fail to comply with the conditions, very often people find themselves back in custody.

“That could mean you’re back in custody for an awfully long time.”

“Thank you, I won’t breach. I appreciate it,” Mr Sabermanesh said in reply.

He will return to court next month.

Originally published as Man charged after AFP Operation Kraken released on bail