By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A man is fighting a drug possession charge, arguing a clear bag of suspected meth found in his shoe were actually jewels, a court has heard.
The man had allegedly told police that he’d found the bag near a bus stop in Doveton, and kept it to feature the “stones” in a ring, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard on 4 June.
He later attended a police station in response to a bench warrant, the court was told.
Police alleged that the man, during a police search, removed the bag from his underpants’ waistband and placed it in his shoe.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen asked the man about the police observations during the search.
“It seems like a lot of work for a ring.
“So your defence is it’s not methamphetamine but it’s a rock for a ring?”
The court heard that forensic analysis of the substance would take up to five months.
The man did not have a significant prior criminal history – and no prior drug-related offences.
Therefore, the man was likely to receive a good-behaviour bond if guilty, Mr Vandersteen said.
The judge advised the man to seek Victoria Legal Aid advice prior to booking in a contest hearing.
