A women’s rugby player who admitted to supplying cocaine and ketamine in Sydney’s CBD is stranded in the Pacific Islands after her visa to return to Australia after a competition was refused, a court has been told.
Aliti Namoce, 26, did not appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Monday where pleas of guilty were entered on her behalf to two counts each of possessing a prohibited drug and deemed drug supply.
She also pleaded guilty to a single charge of dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The court was told Ms Namoce was granted a variation to her bail conditions earlier this year so she could travel to her native country to compete with the Fijian side, but was refused entry back into Australia.
The police prosecutor said there was no information before the court to suggest why Ms Namoce was not given a visa to re-enter Australia, and was at risk of breaching her bail if she remained stranded.
“The issue I raise is the suspension (of her bail conditions) was for a period of time. Unless it was adjusted again she would effectively be in breach of bail,” he told Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis
He went on to state “there is no information about the denial of the visa to Australia – which would be of concern – but there could be a perfectly legitimate reason”, and agreed to a two week adjournment.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tsavdaridis told Ms Namoce’s lawyer they were “on notice” and that while approving the adjournment, police could apply to have Ms Namoce detained on the next occasion.
Agreed police facts tendered to the court reveal police were on patrol in Zetland to “disrupt drug supply” activities when they spotted a man get into Ms Namoce’s car before exiting metres down the road.
When she was stopped by police a short time later, officers said they observed her “delaying rolling down her window … (and) was actively attempting to delete messages and close applications on her phone”.
Police immediately seized the phone and after a search of her car uncovered two plastic bags containing smaller packets carrying white powders later determined separately to be cocaine and ketamine.
More than $1000 in cash police allege were the proceeds of crime and a pocket knife were also found, with Ms Namoce telling officers she had driven from her home in Lalor Park because she was “going for a drive”.
A review of the navigation application on Ms Namoce’s phone further revealed she had visited multiple addresses in inner Sydney, including properties in Zetland, Gladesville, Balmain, Paddington, and Glebe.
Ms Namoce played seven games with a reserve grade side under the Parramatta Eels in 2024 and has represented her native Fiji in international rugby.
She is expected to return before the same court next month for sentencing.
Originally published as Women’s rugby player who supplied cocaine, ketamine stranded in Fiji: court
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2024-10-28 12:35:37
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