A former Wollongong barber accused of helping his cousin store large amounts of drugs in a North Wollongong unit complex has had an application to alter his bail refused after a magistrate found “inconvenience” was not a valid reason.
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Wassim Baydoun is facing commercial drug supply charges after police allegedly found large amounts of ecstasy, ice, and cocaine stashed throughout the Virginia Street unit block’s common areas in November 2015.
Baydoun was arrested late last year and initially refused bail in Wollongong Local Court however the NSW Supreme Court granted him strict conditional bail in February this year after his boss agreed to put up a cash surety and have him live with her in Sydney and work at her barber’s shop.
But just six weeks later, Baydoun was again back in Wollongong Local Court seeking to have the bail conditions amended to allow him to live at a different address, by himself.
His boss wrote to the court in support of his application, saying police coming to her door at night to check Baydoun was complying with his 9pm curfew was “inconvenient” for her family.
Baydoun’s lawyer said the new address was closer to his workplace and would allow him to work longer hours and still comply with the curfew.
However, Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused to alter the bail conditions.
“This is an application of convenience for the surety and the accused,” he said.
“I accept it’s difficult for her but that’s what she signed up for.
“As for Mr Baydoun, it’s better than the situation he was in when he was bail refused.”
The case was adjourned to April 26 for further mention.