A person accused of interstate drug trafficking and located with $5 million money hidden contained in the truck he was driving has been granted conditional bail at a Victorian courtroom.
Michele Donato, 47, was arrested by officers whereas behind the wheel of the car on Dorcas St in Melbourne’s Southbank about 9.30pm on Tuesday.
Authorities later seized seven grams of cocaine in addition to the money, which they allege was present in 11 containers hidden behind a custom-built false wall in the back of the truck.
The South Australian was charged with knowingly possessing proceeds of crime with intent to hide, in addition to trafficking and possessing cocaine.
Donato confronted Justice of the Peace Steven Raleigh on Wednesday and was granted conditional bail after his spouse agreed to extend his surety from the initially proposed $20,000 to $50,000.
Police instructed Melbourne Magistrates’ Courtroom he was concerned in “large-scale interstate drug trafficking” and was transporting the seized money in relation to this operation.
They stated Donato was additionally present in possession of two cellphones, one in every of which was cypher-encrypted.
His lawyer, Nelson Brown, stated the father-of-two had an aggressive type of rheumatoid arthritis and wanted to attend an pressing appointment in Adelaide subsequent month.
Mr Brown additionally stated the prosecution had an “extraordinarily weak” case in connecting Donato to the seized money, given no forensic examination of the cash had been accomplished and that his shopper did not personal the truck.
Nonetheless Mr Raleigh disagreed.
“He is driving the truck, he is pulled over and $5 million is discovered – what do you think about a powerful case?” he stated.
“I say it is a sturdy prosecution case (however) we’ll simply must comply with disagree.”
Mr Raleigh granted Donato bail on situation he stays on the one tackle in Adelaide, report back to native police, pay a $50,000 surety, give up his passport and avoid worldwide departure factors.
He’ll face courtroom once more in Melbourne by way of video hyperlink on March 24.