A former Australian National University staffer who played a part in an international MDMA syndicate will be behind bars for the next 15 months.
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Bilal Badr-Eddeen Omari had been on bail since December 2017 and had, for a significant while, lived a relatively normal life.
Aside from his court proceedings, he worked a job at Lendlease in software deployment, and took on the role of carer for his new partner's children.
But on Friday in the ACT Supreme Court, Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson said the law demanded she imprison him.
She acknowledged Omari was a "changed man" since he took part in the MDMA syndicate in 2017, after he got caught up in the "fake glamour" of the drug world.
In a letter to the court, Omari said trouble began when he got involved with the wrong crowd, the "so-called cool crew", and was surrounded by women, cars, and free drugs.
"I felt like I had won the lottery ... you feel like royalty," Omari said.
"When you get things for free, people expect you to return the favour."
Omari went on to take part in the syndicate, which was orchestrated from inside the Alexander Maconochie Centre by prisoner Emin Yavuz. It imported a total 2.2 kilograms of MDMA.
One consignment, which was falsely labelled "paint" and contained about 452 grams of the party drug, was picked up by police at a DHL facility in Fyshwick.
The mail service had dropped it off at the ANU, but it was not collected so they had to pick it up again.
The second consignment, which was also bound for the ANU, contained about 1.7 kilograms of the party drug and was falsely labelled "camping pans".
Omari has always denied he had any knowledge of the second consignment, and Justice Loukas-Karlsson on Friday said she could not rule on that matter either way.
While Omari did not pay for the drugs to be shipped, he said in the letter he was assigned to pick some of them up.
"It is laughable the amount of money I was going to get to pick up the drug importation," Omari said.
"That part of my life, which was so intoxicating, is now over."
Omari said he stood to gain a couple of thousand dollars for picking up the drugs.
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He said he had let his family down "in every respect" and brought shame upon them.
His father, in a letter to the court, said Omari had told him he had been simply hanging out with his friends, drinking coffee and watching movies before police raided their home.
He reiterated Omari had made positive changes in his life since his arrest, but Justice Loukas-Karlsson said Omari still had to pay the price for the choices he made all that time ago.
She said Omari would be released from Canberra's prison in May 2022, and have to abide by the terms of a recognizance release order thereafter.
The sentence took into account one charge of importing a commercial quality of MDMA, and one count of trafficking cocaine.
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
