Drugs find bail hurdle

Man arrested over $250,000 meth haul forced to stay in custody

A MAN allegedly connected to the finding of more than $250,000 of meth has remained in custody after facing a hurdle in his application for bail.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Peter Obermayer requested more time for the arresting officer, who he said had a day off during the week, to review CCTV footage in the matter of Robert Lisle Hardy.

Hardy, 40, was taken into custody on Tuesday, after police found more than 2kg of a white crystal substance in a parked car in Mcilwraith St last week.

He faces charges of possessing dangerous drugs, contravening direction or requirement of police and possess utensils or pipes.

It was the second time last week that Hardy’s matter was mentioned in court, with the matter first mentioned on Wednesday.

Hardy appeared via video link before Magistrate Viviana Keegan on Friday, represented by defence barrister Michael Hibble.

Ms Keegan said Hardy was due to be sentenced on Tuesday for other unrelated drug charges, and she “didn’t accept” he would not have appeared in court as he was “trying to get here” when he was arrested.

Mr Hibble said there were questions yet to be answered by police about evidence brought before the court, firstly with the QP9 – a document prepared by police after a person is charged with an offence.

Mr Hibble said there was “no evidence” that Hardy owned the car in which police found the drugs on September 15. Two days prior to officers finding the drugs, CCTV footage allegedly captured Hardy placing a bag inside the same car. Mr Hibble argued there could have been other people who used the car between September 13 and 15.

Senior Constable Obermayer said police had the CCTV footage, but as it was the arresting officer’s day off on Thursday, they would need to review it.

Hardy will return to court on Monday and was remanded in custody.