Drugs supply charges levelled against former NRL playmaker Brandon Wakeham, who was arrested during an incident which netted police one kilogram of MDMA as part of a wider sting, have been dropped.
Wakeham was playing for feeder club Blacktown in May when he was arrested in the Brookvale Oval carpark after an eight-month investigation into the supply of illicit drugs. The former Canterbury and Wests Tigers half was charged with taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, greater than a large commercial quantity; taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, greater than an indictable and less than a commercial quantity; and participating in a criminal group.
All charges were dropped at a charge certification hearing at the Sydney Downing Centre courts on Tuesday.
“Throughout this process, Brandon has maintained his innocence and we fought for him with the same belief,” said his high-profile lawyer Elias Tabchouri.
“Today’s result, with the charges withdrawn and dismissed against him, is a vindication for Brandon and the fact that he never did anything wrong.
“Brandon is very happy with the result and now seek to rebuild his life, having endured a very difficult time.”
The NRL stood Wakeham down after the charges were laid under its no-fault stand-down policy.
Wakeham’s apartment was raided in May and he was subsequently granted bail in Manly Local Court. The Fijian international, who has played 40 NRL games, was allegedly in the passenger’s seat of a car during two instances of alleged drug supply, the court heard. From the outset, Tabchouri said his client didn’t “have any knowledge” of what was going on.
San Souci businessman Sam Amine, 47, and his nephew Nabil Allouche, 24, were also charged at the time.
Amine was charged with 10 offences, including directing the activities of a criminal group, dealing with the proceeds of crime, supplying an unregistered pistol, and seven offences relating to commercial drug supply.
Brandon Wakeham.Credit: NRL
The NSW Crime Commission has frozen $10 million of Amine’s assets as part of the operation. Police also say they seized cash, phones and drugs from his home.
This is not the first time that Amine has made headlines – he was allegedly kidnapped and beaten in Sydney in 2021 as part of a reported $3 million extortion attempt.
He was at home with his wife in Sans Souci on June 9, 2021, when it’s alleged four armed men broke into the house, pulled him into a stolen BMW and took him to a premises in Padstow where he was assaulted. Police say he escaped just before midnight by climbing out of a window. Three men were charged over the incident.
Charges levelled against Amine in 2019 for steroid possession in Fiji, where he owns several gyms, were subsequently dropped.
Former Bulldogs and Tigers player Brandon Wakeham was arrested and charged with drug supply offences in May.Credit: Police Media
Allouche was picked up by police in Chester Hill at the time; investigators searching his car allegedly seized one kilogram of MDMA, 56 grams of cocaine and approximately $50,000 in cash.
Both men were refused bail at the time.
After a 15-game NRL stint with the Tigers last year, Wakeham switched to the Sea Eagles in the hope of becoming a back-up for established halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks.
