In court, the attorney for a mother suspected of working at a school with a forged COVID-19 vaccination certificate exploded, criticising the police for their ‘outrageous’ raid.
After being detained by members of Sydney’s elite “Raptor” strike force at her Merrylands home at before 8.30am on Tuesday, Jeanette Catherine Jeske, 55, spent the night in jail.
Ms. Jeske, the mother of Trent Jeske, a reputed member of the Alameddine crime family, was charged with giving the false certificate to a primary school where she was employed as the administrative manager in October.
On Wednesday, she appeared before Fairfield Local Court in a Nike puffer jacket and regarded the ground while her attorney tried to get her release on bond.
Her attorney, Winston Terracini SC, declared that she will contest the charges and criticised the way the police handled the situation.
The handcuffed removal of Ms. Jeske from her residence by highly armed police was captured on camera.
He told the judge, “This has got to stop, we were intimidated by these hooligans.”
“They damaged our house after searching it and filming us being arrested,” we were told.
The accusations against the mother, according to Mr. Terracini, are ‘outrageous’ and’made-up.
Ms. Jeske was accused of participating in a criminal organisation that furthered criminal conduct, dealing with property obtained from a crime that was worth less than $100,000, and dishonestly getting a financial advantage by deception.
Police investigations into the alleged drug ring connected her to the criminal organisation, which is how they believe she obtained the bogus vaccination certificate.
Raptor Tactical cops were captured on camera breaking down Ms. Jeske’s door early on Tuesday morning while carrying a battering ram.
She attempted to cover her head with her Nike jacket as she was handcuffed and dragged out of the house shortly after that.
Ms. Jeske is subject to several conditions while out on bail, including good behaviour, relocating only within a 1-kilometer radius of an airport, weekly attendance at Merrylands Police Station, and no contact with specific individuals.
If she violates any of her bail requirements, she will be required to pay $20,000 in fines.
Police collected money, papers, and electronic devices during the search of Ms. Jeske’s residence on Tuesday. All of these materials will be reviewed.
On September 14, Ms. Jeske will return to Mount Druitt Local Court.
Trent, who is allegedly a member of the Alameddine criminal organisation, also made an appearance in the same court on Wednesday to answer to allegations arising from his alleged participation in the network.
On September 14, the 25-year-old will return to Fairfield Local Court.
He was one of 18 males who were detained back in May after police dragged him from his home wearing soccer shorts.
After having lap band surgery earlier this year, which entails wrapping a ring around the top region of the stomach, Jeske was able to shed a significant amount of weight.