By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Narre Warren drug user accused of trafficking heroin and ice near Casey ARC swimming pool has been granted bail.
Sanjesh Charan was arrested in a black Mercedes Benz parked near the pool during Victoria Police’s Operation Omni blitz of the Fountain Gate area, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard.
Nominal informant Sergeant Chris Marlowe told the 15 February bail hearing that police searched Charan and another male who had been leaning in through the car’s window about 2.40pm on 21 January.
In the car, police allegedly found several bags of alleged heroin, weighing about 13 grams.
They also seized several bags of alleged meth weighing a total of 9 grams.
Three phones owned by Charan – including one that was “constantly ringing” – were also seized, as well as digital scales, a large hunting knife and $320 cash, the court was told.
The second male was found with two bags of suspected heroin – branded with the same distinctive purple line as the alleged heroin found in the car, Sgt Marlowe said.
The substances had yet to be forensically tested and weighed.
After his arrest, Charan was assessed by a forensic police officer as being “not fit” for a police interview.
At the time, he had been on bail on a meth possession charge.
Police opposed bail on the grounds of Charan’s “unacceptable” risk of reoffending and endangering the community if released.
Sgt Marlowe noted the unemployed man’s “extensive” 37-page criminal history – including court-imposed drug-treatment orders in 2005 and 2010.
“We don’t believe any bail conditions can reduce the risk to an acceptable level.”
In arguing for bail, a defence lawyer conceded Charan’s long prior history was his “biggest hurdle” for bail.
However, he was assessed as suitable for supervised bail as part of the CISP support program, the lawyer said.
He hadn’t previously had CISP support for his long-standing drug and complex mental health issues.
Charan had successfully completed a CCO in the past despite his difficulties. He had stable public housing, the lawyer argued.
Magistrate Gregory Connellan was satisfied by “a very fine margin” that the risk could be reduced to an acceptable level.
This was due to having CISP support for the first time as well as bail conditions such as a night curfew and a driving ban.
Charan’s marriage plans and his hopes to care for his 80-year-old mother on dialysis were not relevant to risk, Mr Connellan said.
Charan was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 10 March.
