A Newcastle magistrate has ruled the unsightly appearance of an ankle monitor is not a reason to scrap a bail condition for the alleged leader of a Vietnamese drug syndicate.
Newcastle salon owner Nga White, 44, is charged with several offences, including knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group and cultivating a commercial quantity of the prohibited drug cannabis.
She has been on bail, and one condition has required her to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet.
On Wednesday, Ms White's lawyer, Zahir Zakaria asked Newcastle Local Court magistrate Robert Stone to delete the condition, requiring her to wear the ankle bracelet.
"My client is the owner and manager of four businesses alone," he said.
"However after the police media release (relating to the charges last year) shopping centre managers closed down all of her shops.
"She is now in process of again trying to open them again.
Lawyer said GPS monitor hampering business prospects and sleep
Mr Zakaria told the court that his client wanted to get back to work, but found it hard to do so because of the monitor.
"The GPS bracelet on her leg, it is hard to hide it.
"The centre managers [have] they lost faith in her and she is struggling to resume her business activity."
In addition, the lawyer said the bracelet disrupted Ms White's sleep.
"During night the device vibrates every hour," he said.
Kylie Henry for the Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the bail variation.
"One charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment," Ms Henry said.
Magistrate says wearing pants would hide monitor
Mr Stone rejected Ms White's request.
"These matters are very serious," Mr Stone said.
"The wearing of slacks it would seem to me to accommodate the sight of the GPS device,"
"Wearing a skirt doesn't seem to me to be a particular problem, particularly as it is winter at the moment."
But the Mr Stone did allow Ms White to amend her address details and he also changed her curfew.
Ms White is due back in court next month.
