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Former NRL star James Roberts is relieved after having his name cleared over charges of drug possession and suspected illegally obtained cash, his lawyer said outside court.
In November, police charged the 2015 Dally M Centre Of The Year recipient with the prohibited possession of marijuana and suspected stolen goods, being $1400 in cash.
Former NRL star James Roberts has had his name cleared over charges of drug possession and suspected illegally obtained cash.Credit: Getty Images
The charges related to an incident in which he was stopped by police in Matraville on July 30 last year.
On Monday morning, both charges were dismissed at Waverley Local Court, where Roberts did not appear.
Speaking outside court, Roberts’ lawyer Najee Makhoul said his client was relieved to put this all behind him.
“The reason that [the charges were withdrawn,] simply put, was ... that having cash is not an offence, and you’re allowed to have cash,” Makhoul said.
Lawyer Najee Makhoul at court on Monday.Credit: Oscar Colman
“I know there’s a big push to move towards a cashless society, but it’s incumbent on the prosecution to be able to prove that anything in your custody that is stolen or unlawfully obtained, and they just have no evidence that it was obtained from unlawful means, and there was no suggestion that it was nefariously obtained.”
As for the drug possession charge, Makhoul said it related to 0.3 grams of cannabis leaf.
“There was another person in the vehicle, and it was found in their possession, not in Mr Roberts’ possession, so there’s no suggestion that he was in possession of the drugs,” he said.
“He’s relieved to have this out of his way so he can move on with his life”.
Roberts, whose career was marred by injuries and a string of off-field controversies, played 168 games for South Sydney, Penrith, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Wests Tigers over an 11-year career and represented NSW in the 2018 State of Origin series.
Last June, Roberts was found guilty (without a conviction being recorded) of contravening an apprehended domestic violence order and sentenced to a 15-month conditional release order, which is due to expire on September 24.
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