Pubdate: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 Source: Age, The (Australia) Copyright: 2001 The Age Company Ltd Contact: http://www.theage.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5 Author: Farrah Tomazin Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) SOLICITOR 'SET UP', DRUG JURY TOLD Two Victorian drug squad officers devised a cocaine importation scam to set up a prominent Melbourne lawyer who they were desperate to get "at all cost", a County Court jury was told yesterday. Malcolm Rosenes and Stephen Paton had wanted to get Andrew Fraser to such an extent that they allegedly blackmailed one of his associates, Werner Paul Roberts, to help incriminate him by pretending to import cocaine, the court was told. Mr Roberts, 54, has pleaded not guilty to cocaine importation and cocaine possession, denying allegations that he smuggled 5.5 kilograms of the drug into Australia from Africa in September, 1999. His barrister, George Traczyk, told the jury that while police seized the drugs - hidden in eight African wall plaques - soon after Mr Roberts returned from an overseas trip, the plaques had been given to Mr Roberts in Sydney by Mr Paton, who allegedly told him to "take them to Fraser". The court was told that during 1999, Mr Fraser, 50, became the target of a police investigation into cocaine trafficking in Melbourne, codenamed Operation Regent. By closely monitoring him and installing listening devices in his Lonsdale Street office, police learned of his relationship with Mr Roberts, who would sometimes sell him cocaine. Mr Traczyk said that Mr Rosenes approached Mr Roberts one day as he left Mr Fraser's office, and found him carrying a small amount of the drug. He allegedly told Mr Roberts that he would not bust him over the offence, provided he take part in a "secret arrangement" to "help me get Fraser", who, Mr Traczyk told the jury, was a "high-profile" solicitor who had acted on behalf of "high-profile criminals". Mr Rosenes' plan involved Mr Roberts going overseas to "pretend" to import cocaine, the jury was told. Mr Roberts initially refused, but was allegedly told by Mr Rosenes that he only had to "go along with the pretence of bringing in drugs, and leave the rest up to us". Mr Rosenes also allegedly threatened Mr Roberts that if he did not cooperate, "I'll fix you right up". Mr Roberts and an ex-girlfriend flew out of Australia on August 17, 1999. But despite a short stay in west Africa - where the Crown alleges he purchased drugs - Mr Roberts has denied smuggling up to $2.7 million worth of cocaine through Sydney Airport and into Melbourne. Instead, Mr Traczyk told the court, Mr Paton visited his client at a Sydney hotel after he returned from the "sham" trip, and gave him the drug-filled plaques to take to Mr Fraser. This was the first time Mr Roberts had seen the plaques, or Mr Paton, it was claimed. Another man, Carl Heinze Michael Urbanec, 46, has pleaded not guilty to one count of being knowingly concerned in the importation of cocaine. The Crown alleges that Mr Urbanec - with Mr Fraser and Mr Roberts' wife, Andrea Mohr - - formed part of a "support crew" who encouraged and helped Mr Roberts' in his drug operation. But in denying the allegations, Mr Urbanec's barrister, Bill Stuart, said that while Mr Urbanec had sent $900 to Mr Roberts while he was overseas, this was not to facilitate any importation. He had merely been helping his friend who had lost some of his luggage, had problems getting return tickets and who was short of money. The trial, before Judge Leo Hart, continues. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl