SOLICITOR 'SET UP', DRUG JURY TOLD

Two Victorian drug squad officers devised a cocaine importation scam to set
up a prominent Melbourne lawyer who they were desperate to get "at all
cost", a County Court jury was told yesterday.

Malcolm Rosenes and Stephen Paton had wanted to get Andrew Fraser to such
an extent that they allegedly blackmailed one of his associates, Werner
Paul Roberts, to help incriminate him by pretending to import cocaine, the
court was told.

Mr Roberts, 54, has pleaded not guilty to cocaine importation and cocaine
possession, denying allegations that he smuggled 5.5 kilograms of the drug
into Australia from Africa in September, 1999.

His barrister, George Traczyk, told the jury that while police seized the
drugs - hidden in eight African wall plaques - soon after Mr Roberts
returned from an overseas trip, the plaques had been given to Mr Roberts in
Sydney by Mr Paton, who allegedly told him to "take them to Fraser".

The court was told that during 1999, Mr Fraser, 50, became the target of a
police investigation into cocaine trafficking in Melbourne, codenamed
Operation Regent.

By closely monitoring him and installing listening devices in his Lonsdale
Street office, police learned of his relationship with Mr Roberts, who
would sometimes sell him cocaine.

Mr Traczyk said that Mr Rosenes approached Mr Roberts one day as he left Mr
Fraser's office, and found him carrying a small amount of the drug.

He allegedly told Mr Roberts that he would not bust him over the offence,
provided he take part in a "secret arrangement" to "help me get Fraser",
who, Mr Traczyk told the jury, was a "high-profile" solicitor who had acted
on behalf of "high-profile criminals".

Mr Rosenes' plan involved Mr Roberts going overseas to "pretend" to import
cocaine, the jury was told.

Mr Roberts initially refused, but was allegedly told by Mr Rosenes that he
only had to "go along with the pretence of bringing in drugs, and leave the
rest up to us".

Mr Rosenes also allegedly threatened Mr Roberts that if he did not
cooperate, "I'll fix you right up".

Mr Roberts and an ex-girlfriend flew out of Australia on August 17, 1999.
But despite a short stay in west Africa - where the Crown alleges he
purchased drugs - Mr Roberts has denied smuggling up to $2.7 million worth
of cocaine through Sydney Airport and into Melbourne.

Instead, Mr Traczyk told the court, Mr Paton visited his client at a Sydney
hotel after he returned from the "sham" trip, and gave him the drug-filled
plaques to take to Mr Fraser.

This was the first time Mr Roberts had seen the plaques, or Mr Paton, it
was claimed.

Another man, Carl Heinze Michael Urbanec, 46, has pleaded not guilty to one
count of being knowingly concerned in the importation of cocaine. The Crown
alleges that Mr Urbanec - with Mr Fraser and Mr Roberts' wife, Andrea Mohr
- - formed part of a "support crew" who encouraged and helped Mr Roberts' in
his drug operation.

But in denying the allegations, Mr Urbanec's barrister, Bill Stuart, said
that while Mr Urbanec had sent $900 to Mr Roberts while he was overseas,
this was not to facilitate any importation.

He had merely been helping his friend who had lost some of his luggage, had
problems getting return tickets and who was short of money.

The trial, before Judge Leo Hart, continues.