The accused, Ali Lalji, was charged with conspiracy to import cocaine into Australia.
The Crown relied on evidence extracted from seized cellular phones (Cellebrite data) and the testimony of a co-conspirator.
The court first ruled section 36 of the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act unconstitutional for violating Charter sections 7 and 12, as it fundamentally alters hearsay admissibility rules inconsistent with a fair trial.
Despite this, the Crown's evidence, particularly the Cellebrite data, proved Lalji's membership in the conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court found that Lalji either had actual knowledge that the contraband was cocaine or was wilfully blind to that fact.
Lalji was found guilty as charged.
