New Lambton ‘honest’ electrician Cooper Hollingworth facing charges over $623m coke haul

Support letters contrast a model citizen with that of an accused cocaine smuggler, who planned to marry before his arrest over an alleged $623m drug bust.

Five men accused of a joint criminal enterprise to smuggle $623 million worth of cocaine into the country have appeared in local court, with support letters for one accused revealing the stark contrast between his alleged crimes and his everyday life.

The co-accused are alleged to have attempted to smuggle 1100kg of cocaine off the coast of South West Rocks on a luxury vessel on May 9.

As the case progresses in court, the support from family, partner and employer of New Lambton electrician Cooper Hollingworth, 25, can be revealed.

Court documents reveal letters to support his bail application painting a picture of an ordinary life — a hardworking tradesman with a devoted partner and supportive family.

Hollingworth’s father, an engineer, wrote that “the charges come as a complete shock to me and my family” and offered to put up $150,000 surety, insisting “the allegations are entirely out of character and he has no criminal record”.

According to a police fact sheet “Malcolm was located in a wetsuit and Hollingworth was soaking wet as if having been in water”. Supplied by NSW Police.

His father revealed the keen spear fisherman had plans to marry his de facto partner and purchase a house before the arrest.

The accused’s partner, a full-time primary school teacher, wrote that she had made a gruelling 10-hour round trip “every single week” to visit him in prison since his arrest and prior to bail being granted on July 16.

Police arrest five people over 1.1 tonnes of cocaine found on a boat off South West Rocks. Supplied by NSW Police.

“The situation came as a complete shock to me and everyone who knows him,” she wrote.

“I love him and fully stand by him,” she said.

Prior to his arrest, Hollingworth had worked for over seven years as an electrician, with his employer describing him as an “honest, reliable and hardworking employee” and keeping his position available for him to return.

Meanwhile, a separate Supreme Court application sought to vary bail conditions for co-accused Chaiwat Thipsing to allow him to attend work.

Police allegedly found over 1.1 tonnes of cocaine on a luxury boat off South West Rocks near Nambucca Heads. Supplied by NSW Police.

The five co-accused, mechanic Rodney Hill, 35 of Belmont North, traffic controller business owner Luke Hazell, 29, of Edgeworth, Jacob Malcolm 26 of Merewether, Chaiwat Thipsing 29, of Beresfield and Cooper Hollingworth, 25, of New Lambton appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday November 11.

They are charged with participating in a criminal group, contributing to criminal activity and supplying a prohibited drug greater than a large commercial quantity.

Hill, Hazell, and Thipsing were released after successful bail reviews in the NSW Supreme Court on August 8 while Hollingworth was granted bail in Coffs Harbour the Crown tried unsuccessfully to overturn it in the Supreme Court on July 18.

Jacob Malcolm remains bail refused.

They have not been required to enter a plea.

The men return to Coffs Harbour Local Court on December 9.

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Originally published as New Lambton ‘honest’ electrician Cooper Hollingworth facing charges over $623m coke haul