Drug plot charges laid in Standen case

Lisa Davies From: The Daily Telegraph March 15, 2011 12:00AM

THE head of the NSW Crime Commission, Philip Bradley, will give evidence against one of his most senior investigators, Mark Standen, who will face trial accused over a major drug plot.

Standen has pleaded not guilty to three charges relating to an alleged conspiracy to import a precursor drug, pseudoephedrine. He is accused of conspiring with two men, Bakos Jalalaty and James Kinch, to import the drug used to make ice, as well as knowingly taking part in supplying 300kg of the drug.

A large panel of potential jurors was yesterday given some details about the case, before six men and six women were selected to sit on the two-month trial.

Crown Prosecutor Tim Game SC told the court Standen, the former assistant director of the commission's investigations, faced a third charge of perverting the course of justice.

Standen, he alleged, did so by "using his position or using his knowledge to assist in diverting attention" from possible detection and prosecution of the alleged drug racket. He also said Standen was accused of discussing with Mr Jalalaty what he "might say if arrested".

When describing his alleged co-conspirators, he said Jalalaty ran two businesses, BJs Fine Food and BJs Game and Poultry, while Kinch "was formerly an informant of Mr Standen's".

Key witnesses would include investigating officers from the Australian Federal Police, Mr Bradley and other senior staff from the commission, Mr Game said. Jurors were warned that a large portion of the case would involve listening device and telephone intercept material.

After the jury was empanelled, Justice Bruce James said they must ignore all previous media reporting of the matter and assess the case solely on the evidence presented during the trial.

"The accused is not guilty of anything unless or until he's proven guilty," Justice James said.

Standen, now aged 53, wrote notes during yesterday's proceedings, dressed in dark suit trousers, a white shirt and dark striped tie.

He was arrested in 2008 as he sat at his desk at the commission's city offices following a secret investigation into the allegations.

Mr Game will open the case tomorrow with the Crown's evidence to follow his address.