Gerardo Penna leaves court after a money laundering charge was withdrawn. Photo: Albert McKnight.
A former real estate agent, who has already been accused of being involved in the alleged attempted importation of drugs, has had a charge of money laundering dropped.
Gerardo Penna appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (25 October) where his lawyer, Sarah Boxall of Boxall Legal, confirmed some charges would be dropped while others would proceed to the Territory’s higher court.
Charges of money laundering and receiving stolen property, which had been laid in June 2022, were withdrawn by Magistrate James Lawton.
However, a charge of failing to comply with an order laid by a magistrate was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. A charge of possessing property suspected to be the proceeds of crime was also transferred to the higher court.
Bail was continued and these two charges will be heard again in court in the future.
The courts have previously heard Mr Penna had allegedly bought a Mazda RX-7 for $20,000 cash, which was the subject of the now-dropped money laundering charge.
Priscilla Palombi leaves court earlier this year. Photo: Albert McKnight.
He had also allegedly bought electric bikes worth $35,000 that were seized in November 2021 and were the subject of the stolen property charge.
Mr Penna and Priscilla Palombi were aged 40 and 39 respectively when they were handed their initial charges last year.
The pair were alleged to have attempted to possess a consignment containing about 790 grams of methamphetamine on 17 November 2021.
Mr Penna was granted bail last December and has been committed to the Supreme Court for trial to fight charges stemming from these allegations.
Ms Palombi had previously indicated she would plead not guilty to her charge.
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