A MAN who is alleged to be the "Mr Big" behind a plot to import a world-record $440 million haul of ecstasy into Australia was committed to stand trial this afternoon. Magistrate Simon Garnett rejected an application by Pasquale Barbaro to adjourn his committal hearing after he announced to the court that he had sacked his legal team.
Mr Garnett said there was sufficient evidence in the police hand-up brief of evidence to convince him that a jury properly instructed could convict Mr Barbaro of the six charges he faces.
He committed him to stand trial on one charge in the Supreme Court and on five charges in the County Court.
It is alleged that Mr Barbaro, 49, from Griffith, New South Wales, attempted to import more than 15 million tablets of MDMA, or ecstasy, weighing more than a tonne in tomato tins which were offloaded in Melbourne from Italy.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. Related CoverageImport scheme: Pair jailed over 'evil' cocaine bid Court date: Ricky Nixon to face driving charge .End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. He is also charged with importing 150kg of cocaine and laundering millions of dollars in drug money.
Earlier today in Melbourne Magistrates' Court Mr Barbaro told the judge that he was in the process of appointing a new legal team and it would need three months to examine over 300 folders of evidence in the police brief.
But Mr Garnett said that today's committal date was set nearly nine months ago and he had been given ample opportunity to prepare.
A number of co-accused have had their committals heard in the same court in the past month.
Mr Barbaro has been charged that on various dates between May 2007 and August 2008 he conspired to import a commercial quantity of MDMA, trafficked a commercial quantity of MDMA, and imported a quantity of cocaine.
It is also alleged he conspired to import a precursor chemical, dealt with $7.4 million which were the proceeds of crime and received or possessed sums of money that were the proceeds of crime.
Mr Garnett asked Mr Barbaro how he pleaded to the six counts and he replied “at this stage not guilty your Honour''.
The magistrate remanded him to appear at preliminary hearings in the Supreme Court on March 15 and in the County Court on June 6.
Mr Barbaro made no application for bail.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/pasquale-barbaro-faces-trial-on-alleged-440m-ecstasy-import-bid/story-e6frf7kx-1226014235030
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