A Jindera woman who carried out secretarial work related to her husband's major drug supply operation had no knowledge of that specific crime, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Anecita Empasis carried out tasks such as sending out bank account details to various people and booking the lease of a car later used to transport the 28 kilograms of cannabis sourced by Edward Allan Tindle, 66.
These details were spelt-out in a detailed sentencing submission put to Albury Local Court by defence lawyer Chris Watson, who appeared on Tuesday via a video link.
IN OTHER NEWS:
But had she known of the connection of these activities to the supply of cannabis, magistrate Richard Funston was told, she would have been sentenced on a charge of supplying a prohibited drug.
A Director of Public Prosecutions representative withdrew that charge and one of dealing with the proceeds of crime, namely $1 million in cash, before the same court in early November.
Instead, Empasis, 37, was sentenced only on a charge of participating in a criminal group.
While the court acknowledged Empasis was a minor player in the criminal activity led by Tindle, who faces District Court sentencing early next year, it was still serious enough that she could not not avoid a conviction, Mr Funston said.
Nevertheless, he said it also had to be recognised that Empasis initially had spent three months in jail, bail refused, when still on the more serious charges, and wasn't likely to re-offend.
Mr Watson said there could be no parity on sentence with fellow gang member Michael Shane Lansdown, given he was handed a District Court sentence on a far more serious charge of supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. Lansdown, of Walbundrie, received 22 months' jail, with a minimum of 14.
He asked for an order without supervision, as Empasis was concerned at being barred from travelling to the Philippines to care for her "gravely ill" mother.
Mr Funston placed her on a nine-month community corrections order.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @bordermail
- Follow us on Instagram @bordermail
- Follow us on Google News