Melbourne socialite Brynne Edelsten has bail conditions relaxed after police raid allegedly uncovered drugs
A Melbourne socialite accused of drug smuggling has had her bail supervised lifted by a court following a “perfect engagement”.
Brynne Edelsten, 43, and her accomplice Simon Pienaar appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, with the case adjourned for a moot hearing in late July.
The police officer who accused the pair, constable Tedra Thorpe and two fingerprint experts will give evidence while the magistrate decides whether to send Ms Edelsten and Mr Pienaar to trial.
The pair were arrested after police raided Ms Edelsten’s Fitzroy home on December 29, allegedly finding a quantity of drugs and steroids including methamphetamine, testosterone and ketamine.
It will be alleged that Mr Pienaar’s fingerprints were found on medicine packaging.
Both Ms Edelsten and Mr Pienaar are charged with offenses including dealing in commercial quantities of methamphetamine and drug possession. Neither of them had to defend themselves.
At the request of Ms Edelsten’s lawyer, Veronika Drago, her bail conditions were modified to remove the requirement to comply with conditions set by the Court Integrated Service Program (CISP).
The court was told that a report by CISP, which had been monitoring Ms Edelsten since she was granted bail on December 30, recommended she be released from the programme.
The court was told Ms Edelsten had shown “excellent participation” in the programme, including attending counseling support services.
After reading the report, Judge Donna Bakos noted that the report spoke in “very cheerful terms” about its progress and rehabilitation efforts.
“It’s important that I acknowledge that you are participating in the best possible, which is excellent,” he said.
“I strongly recommend that you continue on this path.”
Miss Edelsten replied; “Thank you, Your Honor.”
The United States-born socialite is perhaps best known for her high-profile marriage to the late billionaire businessman and Sydney Swans owner Geoffrey Edelsten.
The couple, who have a 46-year age difference between them, got married in a lavish ceremony in 2009 and separated 5 years later.
In later years Miss Edelsten appeared on various reality TV shows including Dancing with the Stars, SAS Australia and her own show Brynne: My Bedazzled Life.
Both Ms Edelsten and Mr Pienaar will return to court on July 27.
