Disgraced former NRL player Jamil Hopoate has been given a deadline for when he must enter a plea in relation to an alleged cocaine importing scheme.
The son of former footy bad boy John Hopoate had his matter mentioned in Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday after he was arrested over allegedly accessing a truck linked to a massive $154m cocaine haul at Port Botany in May 2021. He has been charged with
one count of large commercial drug supply.
Hopoate was not required to appear in court while the matter was mentioned by his solicitor Feddy Kak via email.
The court was told the Director of Public Prosecutions and Hopoate’s legal representatives were yet to come to an agreement despite the court previously hearing a plea was due to be entered on Thursday.
Mr Kak wrote to the court requesting the further two-week adjournment.
However, magistrate Susan Horan was not impressed as the matter had already been adjourned five times.
“This has been listed for committal five times, is the time being used properly?” she questioned.
Ms Horan ordered Hopoate to enter pleas on March 31.
Hopoate was granted bail in July last year with strict conditions, including that he live with his brother Will and that he only leave the former Broncos star’s Gledswood Hills home in the company of various family members.
The conditions were changed in December when he moved to Dee Why, with the 27-year-old now allowed to leave his home by himself during a medical emergency, to attend court, to look for work or to attend work, to see his lawyers and to report to police.
Police allege Hopoate entered the truck and left with a backpack filled with fake cocaine, which police had secretly planted, before entering a car being driven by a woman.
Hopoate yelled “drive, drive, drive” before she sped off and almost hit a police officer, a court was told.
Police allege Hopoate then fled on foot and threw the bag away before the two were arrested.
xjmtzywHopoate was released by the Broncos at the end of the 2020 season and failed to land a new deal with a Sydney club.
He will appear in court on March 31 to enter pleas.
