Outreach worker connected to injection facility faces court over trafficking
An outreach worker linked to Melbourne's controversial safe injecting room has faced court charged with drug trafficking.
Matthew Honey was arrested following a three-month police investigation that included CCTV, 6000 phone calls and the analysis of the accused's mobile phones.
Police also used undercover officers to allegedly purchase drugs from the accused, the court heard.
Matthew Honey. 9News
The 49-year-old was among five who faced court for trafficking heroin in the Richmond area.
The outreach worker is barred from going within 50m of the Richmond safe injecting facility unless he is attending an appointment with his nearby doctor.
"He's someone who is on the methadone program," lawyer Rob Melasecca told the court.
In an interview with 9News in June, Honey claimed he'd helped treat about 200 overdose cases while working at Richmond's medically-supervised injecting room.
He was named Yarra's drug and alcohol worker of 2018.
Burnside Heights pair Thi Ngo, 43 and Chia Van Truong have also appeared in court charged with trafficking heroin and conspiring with others to traffic the drug.
Women holding up sheets to hide the identity of the injection centre employee. 9News
They were arrested and charged during the same operation that nabbed Honey.
Truong, wearing a Tommy Hilifiger tracksuit, limped into court and her lawyer said she was in "a considerable amount of pain" after surgery.
Both Truong and Ngo are on bail and have been banned from going to Richmond, must report to police daily and are not allowed to associate with co-accused except each other.
Richmond woman Jodie Keasey, 49, is also charged with trafficking heroin and conspiracy offences, along with possessing heroin and $3675 cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.
Medically supervised injection centre 9News
Michael Tran, 35, faced court on today after he refused to do so on Friday and is charged with trafficking and conspiracy charges.
Police do not allege any trafficking took place in the vicinity of the centre.
North Richmond Community Health Centre Supplied
Centre chief executive Demos Krouskos was stood down less than 24-hours after the arrests and an independent review has been ordered into the facility.
The Victorian government announced the urgent review on Friday to determine whether the centre, which is adjacent to the safe injecting room, "failed to prevent alleged criminal activity by its staff".
Acting Health Minister Luke Donnellan said the employment of former drug users at the health centre would be part of the review.
"We need to ensure that we are following best practice in the employment of people in this outreach service, because this very much undermines the purpose of the outreach service," Mr Donnellan said.
"These people are here to assist people to get off drugs and access health services and when you have these allegations, that is undermined."
with AAP
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