BAIL DENIED IN DRUG LAB CASE

A man charged with making $1.2 million of amphetamines was refused bail
yesterday.

Robert James McKay, 50, of Miller, appeared in Parramatta Bail Court charged
with knowingly taking part in the manufacture of a prohibited drug.

Police prosecutor Scott Schaudin told the court the unemployed man had been
evading police for the past year.

"He has been living in various hotels ... and there have been numerous
police efforts to try to locate him," Sgt Schaudin said.

"He has also been known to use numerous aliases."

Sgt Schaudin asked the court to refuse bail.

"The defendant has been able to avoid police for the past 12 months giving
concern to his likelihood to appear," he said.

Police facts tendered to the court state police uncovered a drug laboratory
in the Kingswood area on April 30 last year.

A search warrant executed by police revealed amphetamines with a street
value of $1.2 million on the premises.

Police allege McKay had been connected to the manufacture of drugs through
fingerprints and documentation in his possession.

McKay's counsel Gary Gillett argued that his client should be granted bail.

He said McKay had no income – a characteristic not consistent with a major
drug dealer.

He admitted McKay, who holds a New Zealand passport, had failed to appear on
another matter in that country.

But he said his client had some problems with "some people" there and had to
"hot foot it out of the country".

Registrar Kevin Dover formally refused bail and ordered McKay to appear in
Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.