Bail for Sydney lawyer facing drug charges

A Sydney criminal lawyer accused of commercial drug supply has been granted bail after he and his family posted more than $1 million as security.

Ugo Parente, 33, was arrested on June 26 after police pulled him over for a breath test at Eastlakes in Sydney's south and searched his car, allegedly finding a bottle of the drug GHB.

After a subsequent search of his Punchbowl home, he was charged with several offences, including supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited drug.

The alleged offences include 100 ecstasy tablets and one litre of GHB.

Despite saying there was a strong prosecution case, magistrate Megan Greenwood granted Parente bail, citing his family's particularly strong support of him and the "harsh" isolation conditions he was experiencing in prison.

Defence lawyer John Korn said Parente was placed immediately into isolation after his arrest because he was a solicitor, with correctional officers saying this was for his safety.

"He (Parente) didn't think he needed it," Mr Korn said.

"He is on his own."

Mr Korn said Parente claims other people were in his car, where a bottle of the liquid GHB was allegedly found, earlier on the night he was arrested.

"(The bottle) was not between his legs or in his hand," he said.

"It was reasonably out of his reach."

But prosecutors say items found in a safe at Parente's home add weight to their case, which they believe is very strong.

Parente and a number of his family members will deposit a combined $1,000,030 as surety for his bail to mitigate flight risk.

"The extent of support he has from his family - immediate and also extended - is unusual to see," Ms Greenwood said.

Parente was ordered to live with his father in Newcastle and surrender his passport, and was given a night curfew.

He is expected to reappear in court next month.