Latest news with #JusticeDhanji
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Perth Now
Gangs ‘threaten man who bribed gov worker'
A man accused of bribing an Australian Border Force employee with gifts to smuggle in nearly 7kg of cocaine into the country has allegedly been threatened behind bars, sparking concerns he could be killed if released on bail. Cosmo Commisso, 67, allegedly conspired with Australian Border Force (ABF) employee Rita Gargiulo, 51, to get a 6.9kg parcel of cocaine through an ABF examination and into the country. Mr Commisso, alleged to be an organised crime figure in court documents seen by NewsWire, allegedly gave Ms Gargiulo cash, jewellery and designer accessories in exchange for information to get drugs through the border. Ms Gargiulo was allegedly able to search cargo systems and decide if parcels needed to be flagged for examination as part of her role as an ABF supervisor, the Australian Federal Police previously alleged. She and Mr Commisso allegedly used burner phones for 'clandestine' communications over a nine-month period during which it was suggested Mr Commisso gained knowledge of ABF operations, a court was told. Prosecutors on Thursday fought against an application for Mr Commisso's bail, arguing he may fail to front court if released as he may be killed or seriously injured. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) prosecutor Melanie Moss told the court Mr Commisso had already sought protective custody over claims 'all bikie gangs have put a threat against me through my family'. 'I confess, I've not previously heard or considered a concern with respect to an application failing to appear as a result of being hospitalised or killed by others,' Justice Hament Dhanji said. He argued Mr Commisso's safety was at higher risk while in jail, a 'notoriously dangerous place'. '(The) presence of persons in jail to settle grievances or scores is common,' Justice Dhanji said. The court was also told Mr Commisso, who suffers from several health conditions including diabetes, had complained he wasn't receiving access to medications in prison, which Justice Dhanji accepted could cause him anxiety. His health conditions also satisfied Justice Dhanji that he was unlikely to be a flight risk if released. Justice Dhanji noted the charges were 'extremely serious' and would likely result in a significant jail term if Mr Commisso were to be convicted when handing down his decision. He found there was no possible risk of Mr Commisso reoffending in the same way given Ms Gargiulo was also charged, and it was unlikely he'd risk reoffending while on bail. Mr Commisso was ultimately granted bail under a set of extensive and strict conditions, including home detention conditions and requirements preventing him from using or possessing a smartphone or encrypted communication devices including Snapchat and Telegram. He's also been barred from going within 500m of any international point of departure or getting a passport, and he cannot have more than one mobile phone. Rita Gargiulo was also granted bail on Thursday. Supplied. Credit: Supplied He was also required to put up $1.6m in security. Ms Gargiulo was also granted bail on Thursday, the conditions of which also prevent her from going within 500m of any point of international departure. She also had to surrender her passport prior to her release. Both Ms Gargiulo and Mr Commisso have been ordered not to contact each other, nor two other alleged co-offenders Daniel Nuumaalii and Ali Riza Eren. Mr Commisso was charged with import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, communicating and dealing with information by non-Commonwealth officers, and bribe a Commonwealth public official, while Ms Gargiulo was charged with aid and abet importation commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, commonwealth public official receive bribe, official abuse public office to gain advantage and commonwealth officer disclose information. Mr Nuumaalii, 25, was charged with possess commercial quantity unlawful import: border controlled drug, while Mr Eren, 65, was charged with import commercial quantity of border controlled drug and attempted possess commercial quantity unlawful import: border controlled drug. All four are yet to enter pleas.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- The Sun
Pregnant teacher, 36, who had ‘sex with pupil, 15, after she groomed him' breaks down in tears in court
A PREGNANT teacher accused having sex with a 15-year-old pupil after grooming him has been granted bail. Karly Rae, 36, was arrested in October at her home in New South Wales, Australia on suspicion having intercourse with the boy, who attends her school. 3 3 Rae is a special needs teacher - but the schoolboy is not believed to have special needs. There is also no suggestion that the student is the father of her unborn child. Rae is alleged to have had sex with the pupil on October 4 last year, shortly before her arrest, according to court docs seen by The Daily Telegraph. Rae has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her - which also include possession of child abuse material and grooming a child for sex. During a bail hearing at the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, so the court heard Rae was initially granted bail, but later thrown behind bars for allegedly contacting the student. On January 14, she rang the alleged victim five times in two hours to persuade him to "give a false version of events", the court heard, which was said to breach a domestic violence order in place. Instead of agreeing, the teen told his mother what had happened and went to the police. Rae was then arrested and has been locked up for the past four months. However, the judge granted Rae bail on Friday under strict conditions, after hearing about her "high risk" pregnancy. Justice Dhanji said: "The applicant is 23 weeks pregnant, due to give birth in September." Evil mum jailed for SELLING daughter, 6, 'to healer who wanted eyes & skin' The expecting mother reportedly sobbed silently on the video link at the mention of her pregnancy. The judge noted her pregnancy was high risk owing to her gestational diabetes and history of miscarriages. But he also ruled that, due to the nature of the allegations against Rae, her child will be unable to stay with her in custody. Rae was slapped with at least 14 bail condition - including home detention, a ban on social media use, and a requirement to report to Toronto Police Station three times a week. The judge also said Rae is "no longer able to work as a teacher" and its "highly improbable" she will make attempts to have sex with a child. Earlier in the week, Rae pleaded not guilty to five charges via video link at Newcastle Magistrates Court. These included aggravated sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16, grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity and possession of child abuse material. Additional charges include acting to pervert the course of justice and breaching the violence order after allegedly contacting the student in January. Rae's case will go to trial in the District Court and will be arraigned in July.
ABC News
06-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Karly Rae, NSW teacher accused of sex with teenager, granted bail due to pregnancy
A high school teacher accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy near Newcastle has been granted bail after revealing in court that she is pregnant. Karly Rae appeared in the New South Wales Supreme Court in Sydney via audio-visual link on Friday to apply for bail. Earlier this week the 36-year-old pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old boy in October 2024. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 12 years behind bars. Court documents allege that she communicated with the 15-year-old on social media. The teacher also pleaded not guilty to possessing child abuse material and grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity. Due to the seriousness of the charges Ms Rae was required show cause in order to receive bail and had to argue why her detention was not justified. The show-cause provision hinged on her pregnancy. While considering the release application today Justice Hament Dhanji was told Ms Rae was 23 weeks pregnant and due to give birth in September. Prosecutor Lucas Velcic noted that there were complications with the pregnancy but stressed the case was strong. "In short, the Crown submits it is a very strong – if not overwhelming – case in relation to the most serious of charges," he said. But Mr Velcic added that the Crown accepted that the risk associated with gestational diabetes was "a persuading factor" in terms of showing cause. Justice Dhanji said Ms Rae's pregnancy limited the risk she would abscond. "She is a significant way through pregnancy and about to have a child, not to mention in custody," he said. "In circumstances where there is no prior record, it would have to be thought in those circumstances [during pregnancy] the risk would be very much reduced." The court also heard concerns about a prior release on bail when Ms Rae allegedly contacted the boy and asked him, according to the prosecution, to "give a false version of events". Justice Dhanji told the court Ms Rae contacted the boy the first time she was granted bail. "She telephoned the complainant on the 14th of January," he said. Ms Rae has pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice. Mr Velcic said he feared for the boy's wellbeing. "The nature of the breach is very serious — five phone calls and the continual attempt to contact a vulnerable complainant, and those concerns remain today," he said. Justice Dhanji granted bail and told the court the risks could be "ameliorated". "She is well advanced in pregnancy and it is highly improbable there will be any attempt by the applicant to engage in sexual activity with a child," he said. As part of her 10 bail conditions Ms Rae must report to police three times a week, be subject to home detention and not go within 500 metres of a port or airport. She must also stay off social media. Ms Rae's Legal Aid solicitor, Cleo Patrizi, did not speak during the proceedings but her client did motion to her several times. Wearing a prison-issued sloppy joe and a gold crucifix necklace, Ms Rae sobbed throughout proceedings. She let out a big sigh and put her head in her hands when bail was granted. Ms Rae also sobbed when the court was told she would never teach again. Ms Rae is schedule to appear in Newcastle District Court on July 3, when a trial date is expected to be fixed.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Pregnant special education teacher who allegedly groomed and had sex with a 15-year-old schoolboy breaks down in tears as she fronts court
A special education teacher charged with grooming and having sex with a 15-year-old boy will be released on bail due to her 'high risk' pregnancy. Karly Rae was arrested in October at her home in Merewether in the NSW Hunter region after she allegedly had sex with the teenager from her school. The schoolboy is not believed to require special needs support. The incident allegedly occurred some time between 6pm on October 4 and 12.30pm the following day, court documents seen by The Daily Telegraph said. The former teacher has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. There is no suggestion the teenager is the father of her unborn child. During a bail hearing on Friday, the court heard Rae had initially been granted bail following her arrest but was thrown behind bars three months later. The court heard she rang the teenager five times in two hours to get him to 'give a false version of events' on January 14, allegedly breaching an apprehended domestic violence order in place to protect the 15-year-old. She was subsequently arrested and has been in custody for the last four months. On Friday, Justice Dhanji granted Rae bail under strict conditions, citing her 'high risk' pregnancy as a key reason. 'The applicant is 23 weeks pregnant, due to give birth in September,' he said. At the mention of her pregnancy, Rae could be seen sobbing silently on the video link she used to join the court hearing. Justice Dhanji noted the pregnancy was 'complicated' and 'high risk' due to her gestational diabetes, as well as her previous experience with miscarriages. He said due to the nature of the allegations against Rae, the child would not be able to stay with her if she remained in custody. Addressing her previous breach of bail, he acknowledged she did attempt to dissuade the teenager from giving an 'accurate version of events'. He said Rae was 'no longer able to work as a teacher' and it is 'highly improbable that there would be any attempt by the applicant to engage in sexual activity with a child'. At least 14 bail conditions have been applied, including home detention, no social media, and the requirement to report to Toronto Police Station three days a week. Earlier this week, Rae appeared on a video link at Newcastle Magistrates Court where she pleaded not guilty to five charges. These included aggravated sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16, grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity and possession of child abuse material. She is also facing charges of do act to pervert the course of justice and contravene apprehended violence order after the incident in January. The charges against her of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16 and produce child abuse material have been dropped. Rae's case will go to trial in the District Court and will be arraigned in July.
