Son of Australian Border Force boss Roman Quaedvlieg faces court over drug charges

Roman Quaedvlieg’s son has pleaded guilty to drug possession, telling a Brisbane court of a horror year in which he lost a child to SIDS.

Che Quaedvlieg leaves the Brisbane Magistrates Court. Picture: AAP

Australian Border Force boss Roman Quaedvlieg’s son has pleaded guilty to drug possession, telling a Brisbane court of a horror year in which he lost a child to SIDS and was diagnosed with depression.

Che Quaedvlieg appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning to face one charge of possessing a dangerous drug.

The court was told told he was at Boondall Entertainment Centre when he was found with a bag containing ecstasy and appeared to be under the influence of a drug.

The 33-year-old, heavily tattooed and dressed in a blue long-sleeve shirt and light-coloured trousers and supported by an older woman who sat in the public gallery, pleaded guilty and told the court he “wanted to apologise”.

He said there was “no excuse for I what I done” but there had been a devastating series of personal events in the last 12 months.

Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg. Picture: AAP

“I lost an eight-month-old son to SIDS,” he said. “I got diagnosed with depression.”

He also developed an addiction to painkillers.

He had only one prior unrelated matter on his record, dating back to 2004.

The magistrate took into account his almost-clear record and the events outlined in court and fined Che $500 and did not record a conviction, with the hearing over in minutes.

Outside court he said he did not want to add to what he had told the magistrate.

Earlier, it had been reported he had been caught carrying ­ecstasy during a recent night out and he had indicated his intention to plead guilty.

His father, who has been stood aside from his $731,000-a-year position last year over a separate scandal, last night said he was supporting his son during the drama.

“I’ve spoken to my son in the last couple of weeks in relation to this matter. I’m aware that it’s a very minor possession charge,” he told The Courier-Mail.

“I’m aware of the difficult personal circumstances he’s undergone in the last 12 months and he has my full and complete support.”

Che said he no longer had a relationship with his father and that his parents divorced when he was 17.

“I went on a night out and I was carrying a small amount of MDMA,” Che said.

“I’m just trying to get back on track after a rough 2017. I lost everything.”

Roman, 53, was stood aside as ABF Commissioner on full pay in May, after allegations he helped secure his girlfriend a job at Sydney Airport.

Mr Quaedvlieg has denied wrongdoing and said they were not in a relationship at the time.

“I don’t wish to make any comment in relation to the matters that relate substantially to me, Roman said last night.

In July he told The Australian he was “looking forward to an early exoneration and resuming my public service career”.

In a further controversy, Border Force officials were also last year asked to explain why the commissioner’s Twitter account liked a pornographic tweet. He denied using the account.

The ABF declined to comment on his son’s charge.