LAWYER KNEW ABOUT COCAINE, COURT TOLD

A prominent Melbourne lawyer, Mr Andrew Fraser, was told that "everything's
gone OK" after a couple imported about $5million worth of cocaine into
Australia, a court was told yesterday.

An Australian Federal Police agent alleged in a Melbourne court that Mr
Fraser was also informed the two "travellers" had arrived from overseas
before police seized about 5.5kilograms of cocaine.

The Melbourne Magistrates Court was told that Mr Carl Urbanec had passed on
the messages to Mr Fraser from Ms Andrea Mohr, the wife of a man who is
alleged to have imported the cocaine with another woman.

A summary handed to the magistrate, Mr Bruce Cottrill, said federal and
Victorian drug squad police started a joint investigation last August into
cocaine trafficking and a pending importation.

It was alleged that Mr Werner Paul Roberts, 52, and Ms Carol Brand, 37,
returned from Africa through Sydney on 10September and were watched by
police who executed search warrants on their Melbourne homes the next day.

Police alleged they found the cocaine in eight wall plaques in a car rented
by Mr Roberts and Ms Brand the previous day in Sydney.

Also arrested was Ms Mohr, 36, while Mr Urbanec, a German national, was
arrested on 17September, allegedly in possession of 28 grams of cocaine and
a small quantity of heroin.

A federal agent, Mr Patrick Meyers, said yesterday during a bail
application by Mr Urbanec that Mr Urbanec was a long-time friend of Mr
Roberts and his role was to assist him and provide advice about the
importation.

He said he believed Mr Urbanec "knew what was happening" and "fully
understood the nature" of the trip undertaken by Mr Roberts and Ms Brand,
but had denied any involvement to police.

Mr Meyers said Mr Urbanec passed a message to Mr Fraser from Ms Mohr that
"everything's gone OK" and that the "two travellers" had arrived.

Mr David O'Doherty, for Mr Urbanec, said the Crown case was weak and that
there was no evidence his client was a party to an alleged importation plan.

Mr John Dickie, prosecuting, said while the case against Mr Urbanec was
circumstantial, it was a strong one and he had "high level" awareness of
the plan.

Mr Cottrill refused bail and remanded Mr Urbanec, who is charged with being
knowingly concerned with the importation of a prohibited import, to 18
January.

Mr Fraser has been charged with being knowingly concerned with the
importation of a prohibited import and three other cocaine-related
offences.