A MAGISTRATE has refused a truck driver bail and says a jail sentence is “inevitable” after he allegedly supplied more than 46g of the drug ice.
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Cameron John Van der Linden appeared in Tamworth Local Court via video link from the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre after he allegedly breached his bail on Friday.
He’s accused of supplying ice and possessing more than $11,000 in cash after an investigation by Oxley detectives culminated in his arrest earlier this month.
Magistrate Roger Prowse said it “would be beyond belief to continue bail” based on the serious allegations.
“It’s a very strong crown case,” he told the court.
“You’re on conditional liberty by three.
“On my reading of the facts, it’s inevitable that you’ll be going to jail.”
Van der Linden is charged with supplying more than an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, possessing drugs, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and dealing with property that is suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
“I do concede he’s on three bonds,” Legal Aid solicitor Fiona Hadlington told the court, lodging a fresh bid for bail.
She said her client wasn’t facing fresh charges and was asleep in the shed on a property at Port Macquarie, but could live with a different family member and continuing working.
“He has good compliance with court orders,” Ms Hadlington said.
As part of Van der Linden’s bail, he was allowed to live and work as a truck driver in the Port Macquarie area, report to police, and be home by 8pm.
He was granted bail by a registrar on January 6 but Mr Prowse said the conditions offered were “wholly and utterly unacceptable”.
Mr Prowse said Van der Linden was a flight risk, an unacceptable risk of committing a further serious offence and endangering the safety of the community.
“Serious allegations of possessing up to $11,000 suspected of being the proceeds of crime,” he said.
Three people were charged as part of the investigation by Oxley detectives.
Police allege $54,000 worth of the drug was seized along with a silencer and firearm during an operation in Kingswood, near Tamworth.
The court was told the charges against co-accused Raymond Charles Cox would no longer proceed after he was found deceased.
A report is being prepared for the coroner.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
