FEAR LED TO DRUG DEALING

A PRISON worker only agreed to smuggle drugs into Acacia Prison amid fears
his family would be attacked, Perth Magistrate's Court was told.

Willem Rekman told the court, on Monday, he felt he could not refuse the
demands because he had already been assaulted and feared further attacks.

He said as a trades instructor, his employer, Australian Integration
Management Services, did not provide him with the same level of training
and security as prison guards.

The 52-year-old grandfather was jailed for eight months after pleading
guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to sell or supply.

Police prosecutor First Class Const. Craig McLennan said a prisoner
arranged for the offender to pick up a parcel from his partner's house on
November 3.

He said police stopped his car on Great Eastern Highway in Glen Forest and
found two bags of cannabis weighing 80g.

Defence lawyer Jeremy Noble said his client agreed to smuggle the drugs
into the Wooroloo Prison only after being pressured by a prisoner.

He said a group of prisoners had attacked Rekman and broke his nose a few
months earlier. He said a prisoner threatened to repeat the assault and
hurt his family if he did not comply.

He also said Rekman's co-operation saw two other people convicted. However,
in a psychologists's report presented to court, Rekman admitted smuggling
drugs into the prison on two separate occasions.