Kava for airfares

Judge says claim 'so bizarre it must be true'

A COMMUNITY worker at Elcho Island bought 100kg of kava to sell to raise money for a summit on the island's future, Darwin Magistrate's Court heard yesterday.

Defence lawyer Thomasin Opie said community development advisor Andy Hassan, 57, was given $2300 by community leader Keith Djiniyin to buy the kava in Sydney.

She said the intention was to sell it to pay for airfares for dignitaries attending the meeting.

"The Land Rights Act Reform Committee wanted to hold a meeting and ask people like the Chief Minister, the Justice Minister and the Northern Land Council," Ms Opie said. "Mr Djiniyin asked my client to go to Sydney to get the kava... to pay for the airfares."

Magistrate Greg Cavanagh said: "This exercise was launched to pay for airfares for dignitaries such as Clare Martin to go to a meeting?"

Ms Opie replied: "Yes."

"That explanation is so bizarre it must be true," Mr Cavanagh said.

Ms Opie alleged that Mr Djiniyin also intended to channel some of the profits to his Tucker Box food shop, which was experiencing financial difficulties.

Hassan, who is originally from Indonesia, pleaded guilty to possessing a commercial quantity of kava and supplying kava without a license after he was found with 100kg divided up into 40g "deal bags" in July.

Prosecutor Ivan Marinov said the man drove a troop carrier to Sydney to pick up the drugs, which had a resale value of about $70,000.

He said Hassan was on parole after being convicted for importing ecstasy into NSW.

But the defence claimed Hassan had not intended to profit from the kava sale personally.

"My client reiterates he was not going to make money from this," Ms Opie said. "He was paid... to purchase it."

The defence lawyer said Mr Djiniyinn had been friends with her client for 15 years.

The magistrate rejected Ms Opie's calls for a non-custodial sentence and sent Hassan to jail for three months.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 15 September 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Rebecca Hewett
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283