"Now, first of all, everything's private and confidential."
Sydney lawyer, Martin Churchill, can be heard advising his client as he answers a phone call coming from Goulburn Correctional Centre on February 4, 2018.
On the other end of the line, a court has heard, is gang leader Bassam Hamzy who wants clarification on why $6,500 in legal fees has been paid on his behalf.
"From what you've just told me there's a third payment that's been made to the barrister which I don't know about," Mr Hamzy says in the recorded call played before a jury last week.
"From what you're telling me, they wanna keep the 6,500 for the third bill. There shouldn't even be a third bill.
"And 1,500 for me, that's nowhere near what the boys are raising for my matter.
"This is now turning into something that I'm very angry about."
The Brothers 4 Life founder asks Mr Churchill to pass on concerns to an associate and hangs up.
Then a third voice can be heard on the line, belonging to a man known as Witness I, who had silently listened while the lawyer and inmate spoke.
"This is getting so confusing," he says.
Witness I has spent four days giving evidence before the Downing Centre District Court, where Mr Hamzy is on trial for charges including commercial drug supply.
He claims that multiple references to "barristers" and money recorded in a series of intercepted calls and texts were used as code to mask discussions of drug deals Mr Hamzy was directing while inside prison.
Mr Hamzy, 44, has pleaded not guilty to charges of supplying 450 grams of "ice", dealing with $14,000 in the proceeds of crime, and hindering an arrest.
A jury has heard he maintains the phone calls, which the crown accepts include no references to drugs, were honest discussions about legal matters.
"I hope absolutely no one has spoken about my legal fees with anyone," Mr Hamzy said in one call.
"Because what [Witness I] pays the barrister is no one else's business. And what others raise for my appeal is no one else's business."
Witness I told the court he sold the 450 grams of meth over five meetings with a person codenamed "b" or "barrister" between October 2017 and February 2018.
"Ok with the barrister, I saw the barrister the other day. I gave the barrister another 7,000," he said in one call with Mr Churchill.
He was asked on Wednesday by crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson if he had "paid any barristers" for Mr Hamzy during that time.
"No barristers," Witness I replied.
"Payment was code for ounces of drugs."
He has claimed $7,000 meant two ounces of methylamphetamine.
The court has heard he was included in three-way "conference calls" with Mr Hamzy and Mr Churchill, but could only speak when "Bass" was off the line.
"I've just got Bassam about to ring me back. He's just chasing up with what's happening with the money," Mr Churchill was recorded saying.
Police were intercepting the calls Witness I dialled in for, as they had bugged his phone as part of a separate investigation.
Defence lawyers argue Witness I acted alone in selling drugs and saw implicating Mr Hamzy as a "get out of jail card" after being arrested.
The court has heard that upon becoming involved with Mr Hamzy, Witness I set out a "contract" where he would only help with "legal stuff".
Barrister Dennis Stewart has listed the jury a raft of "legitimate business interests" Mr Hamzy was pursuing at the time.
Those ventures included plans to import shoes and water bottles from Thailand to sell in Australia.
Others were attempts to move a stock of tiles and bathroom materials to recoup $90,000 lost to a "bad deal", and buying a percentage in Peruvian nightclubs.
There were also discussions about a home in Belize and a proposed apartment development in Burwood, which the court heard "not one person would touch".
"Your terms were, 'I'm not joining you for any other reason than to help with legal stuff'," Mr Stewart put to the witness.
"You were setting the terms of a contract with Bassam Hamzy."
Witness I replied: "Like I said, at that stage. But there are amendments to contracts as well."
Transcripts of phone calls between Witness I and the person prosecutors allege is "the barrister" have also been tendered in court.
The court has heard Mr Churchill sent Witness I the phone number of that person, who can't be identified.
Mr Hamzy's lawyers say he relied on assciates outside of prison to help him support friends, and he wanted Witness I to assist the person with legal and living expenses.
In one call, the person asked about coming to see "cars", with Witness I saying he bought and sold cars, and knew "car dealers" who had them on "lots".
Witness I told the court those sorts of terms were a "smokescreen", and he never spoke openly about drugs on the phone.
"She said cars and I just played along."
Mr Stewart put to Witness I that he was lying to the court because he has been granted leniency for testifying against Mr Hamzy.
"You were incriminating him because Bassam was your get-out jail card wasn't he?" Mr Stewart asked.
"A little bit, yes," Witness I said.
"The police asked me to do something, I was reluctant at first. But I did it."
He told the court the alleged drug deals took place during a dark time of his life and he was "not that person anymore".
"I am holding up my part ... and that is telling the truth today."
The trial before Judge Antony Townsden continues.
