Accused drug trafficker posted online picture of magistrate

A FORMER Bandidos sergeant-at-arms accused of drug trafficking snapped a picture of a magistrate in a Southport courtroom this week and placed it on social media.

Taking photos or video in Queensland courtrooms is strictly prohibited.

Brent Luke Simpson appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a mention of his drug-related charges.

During the short court proceedings Mr Simpson, 48, snapped Magistrate Louisa Pink sitting at the bench.

It appears to have been taken from the public gallery.

Mr Simpson posted the picture as a story on the Instagram page for his podcast The Clink. It was removed a short time later.

It is understood Magistrate Pink saw Mr Simpson taking the photo.

Queensland law prohibits photos being taken inside any courthouse or courtroom.

Special exemptions are given to media in some sentencing procedures in the higher courts but must be approved by a coroner or judge before the proceedings and strict guidelines must be followed.

Mr Simpson was arrested last month after police allegedly found $373,000 in cash, cocaine, a drug press and 60 vials of cannabis oil, an air rifle and an encrypted mobile phone in seven raids across the Gold Coast.

He was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of supply dangerous drugs, two counts of possess dangerous drugs and possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.

It is alleged Mr Simpson and business partner Eden Christopher Gall sold illegal cannabis oil through Releaf Therapies. They both deny the substance they were selling was illegal.

Mr Simpson’s matters were adjourned to September 14.