Pubdate: Wed, 17 Dec 2003
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: Anne Calverley

FEAR LED TO DRUG DEALING

A PRISON worker only agreed to smuggle drugs into Acacia Prison amid fears 
his family would be attacked, Perth Magistrate's Court was told.

Willem Rekman told the court, on Monday, he felt he could not refuse the 
demands because he had already been assaulted and feared further attacks.

He said as a trades instructor, his employer, Australian Integration 
Management Services, did not provide him with the same level of training 
and security as prison guards.

The 52-year-old grandfather was jailed for eight months after pleading 
guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to sell or supply.

Police prosecutor First Class Const. Craig McLennan said a prisoner 
arranged for the offender to pick up a parcel from his partner's house on 
November 3.

He said police stopped his car on Great Eastern Highway in Glen Forest and 
found two bags of cannabis weighing 80g.

Defence lawyer Jeremy Noble said his client agreed to smuggle the drugs 
into the Wooroloo Prison only after being pressured by a prisoner.

He said a group of prisoners had attacked Rekman and broke his nose a few 
months earlier.  He said a prisoner threatened to repeat the assault and 
hurt his family if he did not comply.

He also said Rekman's co-operation saw two other people convicted. However, 
in a psychologists's report presented to court, Rekman admitted smuggling 
drugs into the prison on two separate occasions.