A 26-year-old woman was told that she would get bail if she cooperated with a police investigation of an alleged drug trafficking operation, preliminary proceedings in the Supreme Court in Launceston heard on Thursday.
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Jordyn Lea Fenton was under cross examination from Evan Hughes, defence counsel for Stephen James Williams, who has pleaded not guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance namely methylamphetamine (known as ice) on November 13, 2019.
Ms Fenton received a wholly suspended 10-month jail term in March, 2020 after pleading guilty to dealing with $125,771.90 in cash which was suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
Ms Fenton, who was a bar manager at Lloyds, said that Launceston CIB officer Detective-Constable Amanda Munro had told her she was a "narcissistic, gaslighting human being" and that if she didn't help she was going to jail.
"I was told that if I cooperated I would get bail," she said.
"When did she say it," Mr Hughes asked.
"Before she turned on the recorder," Ms Fenton said.
"I said I was disgusted in her and who was she to judge me as a person."
Police raided Lloyds Hotel and a number of other addresses on November 13, 2019.
Stephen James Williams, 38, of Newstead, has pleaded not guilty to trafficking and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Ms Fenton told Mr Hughes the cash was from legitimate operations of the hotel.
She agreed with a proposition from Mr Hughes that it was siphoned sideways to avoid tax.
She had never seen drugs sold at the hotel and had once seen Mr Williams evict a person trying to sell drugs.
Former licensee of Lloyds, James Napier, said his designated successor as licensee Bradee Howe disappeared with between $60,000 and $70,000 in cash.
"Have you seen him since?," Mr Hughes asked.
"The last contact was on the day of the raid," Mr Napier replied.
Mr Napier said Mr Williams role at the hotel was to do renovations because he would never be able to become a licensee.
He said Mr Williams had a room at the hotel but he said he had never seen inside.
Mr Hughes also cross examined police officers about a charge of perverting justice to which Mr Williams has pleaded not guilty. Police allege Mr Williams threatened or intimidated Samuel Sargison to make a false confession to police in relation to evading police.
Police gave evidence to the proceedings that a grey Mitsubishi Triton owned by Mr Williams was under surveillance by CIB Investigation and Intelligence support services when it was seen travelling at 64km/h along Abbott street on July 3, 2019.
Constable Darren Chynoweth, on a motorcycle, did a u-turn when he saw the vehicle and activated his lights but the car pulled away. He saw it stop in McKellar Road, but the driver decamped.
Mr Williams has pleaded not guilty to evading police and driving without a licence.
Constable Chynoweth said he witnessed a signed statutory declaration on July 11 in which Mr Sargison took responsibility.
Mr Hughes asked Detective-Constable Munro and Detective-Sergeant Glen Evans about a search of Mr Sargison's home on November 25, 2019 as part of a drug investigation.
They talked to him at the front door about the pervert justice charge.
"Did you ask him [Mr Sargison] about an allegation that he had not been driving the car," Mr Hughes asked.
"Yes," Detective-Constable Munro replied.
"He said:'I'll stick to my original statement'," she said.
Mr Sargison was asked by Detective-Sergeant Evans if he feared potential retribution.
"He said: 'I don't wish to say any more' and closed the conversation down," he told Mr Hughes.
Detective-Sergeant Evans said he believed Mr Stephen Williams' brother, Robert was inside Mr Sargison's house at the time.
The proceedings were adjourned until July 22, 2020.
Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
