Candidate appears in drug court

A man who stood as an independent in a Legislative Assembly by-election for the Katherine seat appeared before the drug court yesterday.

Markus Bader’s case was transferred to the court on charges of cultivating cannabis, possessing a traffickable quantity of cannabis, unlawfully possessing property and several firearms charges.

Magistrate Jenny Blokland said she was concerned for Bader, 41, of Katherine, who was traveling all over the NT including a 600km round trip from Katherine to Darwin for counselling.

She was impressed with his willingness to travel for counselling.

She told Bader: “You seem to have made excellent progress and your counsellor has been very complimentary (in the report).

“You have obviously been making a huge effort.”

Bader told Ms Blokland he was “quite enjoying” counseling and had found it very helpful with his anger management.

The magistrate set June 17 for Bader’s final report. After that he would have to deal with the charges, dated August 7 last year.

When a candidate in the October 2003 by-election, Bader admitted spending six days on remand at Darwin Prison after being arrested while driving with more than 17kg of cannabis in a 44-gallon drum.

He later pleaded guilty to possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis and Justice David Angel imposed a two-year suspended jail sentence and a three-year good behaviour bond.

Bader also admitted when a candidate that he had faced at least two assault charges, including one of assaulting police.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 14 May 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Bob Watt
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283