A former ACT Nomads bikie boss has been sentenced to more than three years behind bars for drug trafficking after police seized cocaine, MDMA and methylamphetamine during a raid of his south Canberra house.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mohamed Nchuki, 37, was charged after police seized the drugs, weapons and ammunition during a search of his property and a car in November 2014.
Police said they found about 137 grams of cocaine, about 57 grams of methylamphetamine and 86 MDMA pills in bags in the raid. They also seized more than $7000 cash, two Taser-like devices, scales, a cocaine snorter and bullets.
A flick knife and more than $5000 cash were found in the pockets of Nchucki's work pants.
He pleaded not guilty to three drug trafficking offences and charges of possessing an illegal weapon.
Nchuki maintained throughout his ACT Supreme Court trial he was a drug addict and the drugs were for personal use.
However, a judge rejected that defence and found him guilty in August. His lawyers will appeal his conviction, and his sentence on grounds it is manifestly excessive.
During sentence proceedings, Nchuki admitted he joined the ACT branch of the Nomads about March 2016, when it only had several other members. He had agreed to be joint president.
But he said he relinquished his position and cut ties with club about a month after he was remanded in custody in June this year.
He had not worn club apparel or claimed links to the club since July.
Acting Justice Robinson found beyond reasonable doubt Nchuki did not have to sell drugs and had the financial resources to fund his drug habit.
"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the offender's motivation in trafficking in controlled drugs was to derive a profit from their sale."
The judge noted there was medical evidence before the court that suggested Nchuki suffered attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, but said the challenges he faced were "not insurmountable and can be overcome".
"He has already demonstrated a capacity to function at a high level, notwithstanding his drug consumption and, possibly, an undiagnosed and untreated disorder."
He said Nchuki had all the information and resources he needed to rehabilitate, and that process would depend on his future choices.
Acting Justice Robinson said Nchuki would be a "medium if not high risk of general reoffending" if he associated with bikie gangs and people engaged in criminal activities.
"Whether the offender chooses to do so is a matter for him," the judge said.
"The offender is not driven to act under compulsion by an uncontrolled addiction to drugs or by an untreatable mental disability.
"He has the necessary resources to help himself."
Nchuki will be eligible for release in February 2019.