Alleged drug trafficker, Apostle Broikos – the youngest person in South Australia to be arrested as part of Operation Ironside – has been released from jail.
The 18-year-old was charged with two sets of serious drug offences after he was arrested by SA Police under an international law-enforcement operation that led to more than 220 alleged Australian offenders being apprehended.
Mr Broikos was charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug, methylamphetamine, and for offences that allegedly occurred on 19 May, 2021 at Yamba, just west of the Victoria-SA border.
He was also charged with manufacturing and trafficking a controlled drug between 1 January and 19 August in 2020 at Morphett Vale.
Last week, the Burnside resident appeared at Adelaide Magistrates Court where Magistrate John Wells granted him home detention bail “with a great amount of hesitation” because of his age and “vulnerable position” in jail, despite prosecution contesting the decision with the claim that the accused could continue to offend “wholly undetected”.
Prosecution asked for a Supreme Court review on the magistrate’s decision, meaning Mr Broikos was to remain in custody while an outcome was pending.
A notice of discontinuance was filed later that same day, hence the teenager was able to return to his home in Adelaide’s east.
Mr Broikos was granted a $1,000 bail to live with his parents and 15-year-old sister.
His parents Monika and Alexi Broikos both signed as guarantors, each to the amount of $25,000.
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The teenager is not permitted to leave the property, unless he has permission from Correctional Services, and will wear a tracking monitor under his bail conditions.
He also cannot possess more than one mobile phone or be in contact with a number of people including any of his co-accused.
Magistrate Wells addressed the teenager’s mother and reminded her of her responsibilities as guarantor to ensure her son doesn’t breach his conditions.
Then, speaking to the accused, the magistrate said Mr Broikos was “very fortunate” to have been granted home detention bail.
“I urge you to continue to obey your conditions. If you disobey your conditions, you know what the consequences will be,” he said.
There was a mass hearing for the accused of Operation Ironside last Thursday, where the majority of defence lawyers sought for their clients’ names and identities to be suppressed to ensure the allegations against them did not prejudice a jury.
A long list of suppressions were granted by the magistrate for the co accused of the teenager.
Craig Caldicott, for Mr Broikos, tried to request a suppression order for his client but told the court he was aware “the horse had bolted” because the matter has already been widely reported upon.
NCA NewsWire successfully argued against the suppression.
Magistrate Wells denied the request.
“There has been significant publicity at this point,” the magistrate said.
“Home Sweet Home”
Not long after his release Mr Broikos took to social media and posted a photo of himself with the caption: “Home sweet home”.
Mr Broikos is due to reappear in December.
