The 23rd of March
2020 was the day the prime minister's stage 1 COVID-19
restrictions came into play. It was also the day that Michael Kahil
suddenly found himself in Sydney's Downing
Centre District Court minus the barrister overseeing his
defence during proceedings that commenced on 9 March, two weeks
earlier.
Mr Kahil and his co-accused Tony Haddad had been standing trial
over charges of conspiracy to import a
commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor into
Australia, contrary to subsections 11.5(1) and 307.11(1) of the
Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
This federal offence can see an individual liable to up to 25
years behind bars and/or a fine of $1,050,000.
Time to withdraw
