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The actor who spent his 21st birthday in jail for his alleged role in a deadly cocaine plot is released on bail after his lawyers argued he did so at the request of his father, a superyacht owner.
- James Lake Kusviandy Blee faced the NSW Supreme Court and was granted bail
- Blee, 21, was allegedly involved in the failed importation of 108 kg of cocaine in 2022
- A 31-year-old Brazilian diver died trying to recover the cocaine
- Blee’s father remains in custody and faces similar charges for importing and supplying drugs.
The son of a superyacht owner charged with an alleged importation of deadly drugs has been released on bail after celebrating his 21st birthday in a New South Wales prison uniform.
James Lake Kusviandy Blee, 21, has been in custody since his arrest in November 2022 on drug importation and supply charges.
He was allegedly involved in the failed plot to import 108kg of cocaine in May 2022, when a 31-year-old Brazilian man died while trying to retrieve drugs from the hull of a bulk carrier in Newcastle port.
His body was found near packaged bricks of the drug floating on the water.
With full evidence yet to be produced and a trial unlikely to take place this year, Judge Dina Yehia granted Blee bail on Monday in New South Wales Supreme Court.
NSW Supreme Court Justice Dina Yehia granted James Lake Kusviandy Blee bail on Monday after concluding a trial is unlikely to continue this year.
He has to maintain good behaviour, report to the police every day and reside at a Queensland address as part of his conditions with a $50,000 guarantee.
There are also restrictions on the use of electronic devices and the Internet.
Blee’s father, James Blee, was arrested in May 2022 and remains in custody facing similar charges of drug importation and supply, as well as manslaughter in connection with the dead diver.
The young Blee’s defense argued that his alleged conduct was made up almost entirely of things done at his father’s request.
In granting bail, Judge Yehia considered the son’s age, lack of criminal record and the fact that he had voluntarily attended Tweed Heads Police Station prior to his arrest.
The 21-year-old is allegedly involved in the failed plot to import 108kg of cocaine in the hull of a bulk carrier in May 2022 (pictured)
Police were alerted to the failed drug import attempt after the body of a 31-year-old Brazilian diver was found floating near bricks filled with the drug (pictured)
The judge rejected the Crown’s arguments that Blee had not attempted to flee in the nearly six months between his father’s arrest and his own because he thought he was already under surveillance or “at large”.
“His father had been arrested, a search warrant had been executed at his premises, it was clear when he voluntarily attended the police station that he understood that the police wanted to speak to him regarding criminal activity,” Judge Yehia said Monday. .
The corona case against Blee was not weak, he said, but it was not overwhelmingly strong either.
Blee appeared via video link from the Clarence Correctional Center, sighing with relief and crossing his chest after being granted bail.
He has been excused from attending in person when his case is brought up again in court in February.
Blee’s defense attorneys argued that his actions were made up almost entirely of things done at the request of his father, James Blee, (pictured), who remains in custody on similar drug importation and supply charges.