Sydney crime figure Bassam Hamzy has claimed that he is a victim of a “fabricated” plot as he fights allegations he operated a drug ring from his jail cell.
Mr Hamzy and his former solicitor Martin Churchill were set to face trial starting this week over the sale of methylamphetamine between October 2017 and February 2018.
The trial date has been pushed back to May but the Brothers 4 Life founder has appeared in court to make an application for a stay of proceedings, which would mean he would never face trial over the matter.
The 42-year-old, who is legally representing himself during the application, told the NSW District Court that his whole case rested on the allegation that two key witnesses had been “influenced” by the police.
“The NSW Police Force has specifically told both witnesses ‘we want Hamzy for anything’,” he told Judge James Bennett.
“As soon as these two witnesses find themselves in a desperate situation, they seem to find the convenient way out which is fabricated and false.
Mr Hamzy has pleaded not guilty to supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and hindering the apprehension of a person who committed a serious offence.
Mr Churchill, charged with taking part in the commercial supply of drugs, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, hindering the apprehension of a person who committed an indictable offence and stalk or intimidate, has also pleaded not guilty.
They were both charged in 2019 and it’s been alleged that Mr Hamzy ran the drug ring from his maximum security jail cell from Goulburn Supermax.
It’s further alleged that he used legal professional privilege to communicate with Mr Churchixjmtzywll about the drug ring.
The court heard that Mr Hamzy is alleged to have used “code” disguised as legal terminology, to conduct drug deals from jail.
He spoke extensively as he cross examined Timothy Price, a senior correctional officer from Goulburn prison.
Mr Hamzy presented a series of invoices which he said proved he had helped a number of fellow inmates with legal fees or other matters financially such as paying for funerals.
He presented invoices, some for as much as $35,000.
