news, crime,
Two high-profile Canberra lawyers accused of being “professional facilitators” of organised crime will be allowed to continue practising law, with some restrictions, as their cases progress through the courts. Aulich Law partners Ben Aulich, 47, and Bridie Harders, 35, are accused alongside 54-year-old Kingston accountant Michael Papandrea of offences including conspiracy to deal in more than $100,000 of criminal funds. The ACT Magistrates Court heard on Thursday morning that the trio allegedly conspired with a fourth person, known to them as Alex Torosian. That person’s role in the alleged offending is unknown, but they have not been charged and the wording of allegations put to Mr Aulich and Mrs Harders in court on Thursday suggest the name may be an alias. All three of the accused are set to fight charges laid in the wake of their dramatic arrests and release on police bail last Wednesday. Announcing the busts after a sensitive eight-month investigation, Detective Superintendent Scott Moller described the trio as “professional facilitators” of organised crime. The senior officer said police would allege the accused had been involved in a scheme to buy a business and launder “large quantities” of tainted cash through it. Mr Aulich on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy to deal in proceeds of crime charge, as well as an allegation that he recruited Mr Papandrea to engage in criminal activity between May 8 and the date of his arrest. Mrs Harders also pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy charge. Money laundering charges laid against both prominent lawyers were formally withdrawn, but the court has previously heard they will likely be replaced with charges of conspiracy to launder money. Mr Papandrea was not required in court on Thursday, but he has previously pleaded not guilty to recruiting another person to engage in criminal activity. He has not yet entered pleas to money laundering and proceeds of crime charges. It was revealed on Thursday that Mr Aulich and Mrs Harders would be permitted to continue practising law as their matters advanced. However, Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker was told restrictions had been placed on the pair’s ability to work on certain types of cases and to appear in court on behalf of clients. Prosecutor Keegan Lee described the cases against Mr Aulich, Mrs Harders and Mr Papandrea as “major matters”. He indicated to the court that it would take a significant amount of time before the brief of evidence could be completed and served. This was in part because “a large number of transcripts” had to be included, and the service responsible for compiling those was experiencing a backlog caused by the unusual number of homicide investigations in Canberra this year. Mark Tedeschi QC, the former senior Crown prosecutor for NSW, will eventually be briefed to run the case on behalf of the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions. The three accused are all expected back in court on March 1, when their cases may be committed to the ACT Supreme Court for trial.
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/37pQecASsxP5kZpQjfMrnhn/e1186fde-29e4-4b10-a157-86f427e9cd87.jpg/r0_2_1586_898_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Aulich Law partners Ben Aulich, 47, and Bridie Harders, 35, are accused alongside 54-year-old Kingston accountant Michael Papandrea of offences including conspiracy to deal in more than $100,000 of criminal funds.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard on Thursday morning that the trio allegedly conspired with a fourth person, known to them as Alex Torosian.
That person’s role in the alleged offending is unknown, but they have not been charged and the wording of allegations put to Mr Aulich and Mrs Harders in court on Thursday suggest the name may be an alias.
Michael Papandrea, right, outside court on Monday with lawyer Kamy Saeedi. Picture: Blake Foden
All three of the accused are set to fight charges laid in the wake of their dramatic arrests and release on police bail last Wednesday.
The senior officer said police would allege the accused had been involved in a scheme to buy a business and launder “large quantities” of tainted cash through it.
Mr Aulich on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy to deal in proceeds of crime charge, as well as an allegation that he recruited Mr Papandrea to engage in criminal activity between May 8 and the date of his arrest.
Mrs Harders also pleaded not guilty to the conspiracy charge.
Money laundering charges laid against both prominent lawyers were formally withdrawn, but the court has previously heard they will likely be replaced with charges of conspiracy to launder money.
Bridie Harders, left, Ben Aulich, centre, and Michael Papandrea, right, arrive at the ACT Magistrates Court for their first appearance on Monday. Pictures: Blake Foden
Mr Papandrea was not required in court on Thursday, but he has previously pleaded not guilty to recruiting another person to engage in criminal activity. He has not yet entered pleas to money laundering and proceeds of crime charges.
It was revealed on Thursday that Mr Aulich and Mrs Harders would be permitted to continue practising law as their matters advanced.
However, Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker was told restrictions had been placed on the pair’s ability to work on certain types of cases and to appear in court on behalf of clients.
Prosecutor Keegan Lee described the cases against Mr Aulich, Mrs Harders and Mr Papandrea as “major matters”.
He indicated to the court that it would take a significant amount of time before the brief of evidence could be completed and served.
This was in part because “a large number of transcripts” had to be included, and the service responsible for compiling those was experiencing a backlog caused by the unusual number of homicide investigations in Canberra this year.
Mark Tedeschi QC, the former senior Crown prosecutor for NSW, will eventually be briefed to run the case on behalf of the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions.
The three accused are all expected back in court on March 1, when their cases may be committed to the ACT Supreme Court for trial.
