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Wheels of justice moved too slowly with accused drug mules, says judge

Prosecution criticised for waiting so long to drop charges against six accused drug mules

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From left: Jorg Ulitzka, Celia Eberhard, Hendrikus Teutscher and Brendan Toner celebrate their freedom. Photo: Lana Lam

"Not guilty."

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With those two words, the nightmare that saw six innocent people thrown inside cockroach-infested prisons with the prospect of a lengthy jail term ended yesterday.

In a dramatic turn of events, six defendants from Australia, Europe and the United States, who were accused of smuggling a total of more than 15kg of crystal methamphetamine, were cleared of the charges.

"I formally acquit you and you are free to go," said High Court judge Mr Justice Kevin Zervos.

His order for each of the six defendants yesterday came moments after prosecutors from the Department of Justice offered no evidence in each of the cases, and withdrew the drug trafficking charges.

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The six were part of a group of nine, and the three other defendants remain on bail, pending their next court date.

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