This article is from 'bbc', was first published or seen on Wed Nov 22 22:00:14 UTC 2006 and has 2 versions.
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Drug-dealing barrister is jailedWed Nov 22 22:10:30 UTC 2006 |
Drug-dealing barrister is jailedWed Nov 22 22:20:27 UTC 2006 |
| A barrister who ran a cocaine factory from his apartment alongside a gangster has been jailed for seven years. | A barrister who ran a cocaine factory from his apartment alongside a gangster has been jailed for seven years. |
| Hassan Modjiri, 27, was secretly filmed in his south-west London flat discussing a drugs sale with arms dealer Paul Murdoch, 36, a court heard. | Hassan Modjiri, 27, was secretly filmed in his south-west London flat discussing a drugs sale with arms dealer Paul Murdoch, 36, a court heard. |
| When armed police raided the flat in Barnes they found nearly 1kg of cocaine with a street value of £150,000. | When armed police raided the flat in Barnes they found nearly 1kg of cocaine with a street value of £150,000. |
| Modjiri and Murdoch, of Notting Hill, west London, who was given nine years, admitted possession and supply charges. | Modjiri and Murdoch, of Notting Hill, west London, who was given nine years, admitted possession and supply charges. |
| Judge John Hillen, sitting at Blackfriars Crown Court, told them: "You are an odd couple indeed." | Judge John Hillen, sitting at Blackfriars Crown Court, told them: "You are an odd couple indeed." |
| 'Roman king' | 'Roman king' |
| Modjiri was filmed by a hidden camera discussing a lucrative drugs deal on the phone in the kitchen of his flat on 29 September. | Modjiri was filmed by a hidden camera discussing a lucrative drugs deal on the phone in the kitchen of his flat on 29 September. |
| "This one is the cream," he told his would-be customer. "Who is the Roman king, mate, me. I am a face and a half. We are making bundles." | "This one is the cream," he told his would-be customer. "Who is the Roman king, mate, me. I am a face and a half. We are making bundles." |
| Modjiri was preparing the cocaine for sale in his luxury Barnes flat | Modjiri was preparing the cocaine for sale in his luxury Barnes flat |
| Another camera caught him preparing and packaging the drugs for what the prosecution described as a "double-your-money" enterprise. | Another camera caught him preparing and packaging the drugs for what the prosecution described as a "double-your-money" enterprise. |
| Moments later, armed police burst in and ordered Modjiri and Murdoch to lie on the ground. | |
| A car parked nearby and belonging to Murdoch was searched and found to contain 46 bullets of varying calibres. | A car parked nearby and belonging to Murdoch was searched and found to contain 46 bullets of varying calibres. |
| The pair pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine and one of offering to supply on 29 September. | The pair pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cocaine and one of offering to supply on 29 September. |
| Former milkman Murdoch, who has a previous firearms conviction, admitted six ammunition possession offences. | Former milkman Murdoch, who has a previous firearms conviction, admitted six ammunition possession offences. |
| Cocaine factory | Cocaine factory |
| Modjiri, who worked for solicitors JD Spicer, had been the subject of a police surveillance operation, the court heard. | Modjiri, who worked for solicitors JD Spicer, had been the subject of a police surveillance operation, the court heard. |
| John Elliott, prosecuting, said he had lived in a "substantial and comfortable" apartment which "in reality was a cocaine factory". | John Elliott, prosecuting, said he had lived in a "substantial and comfortable" apartment which "in reality was a cocaine factory". |
| "It was used by these two defendants for processing, packaging and distributing in wholesale quantities high grade cocaine," he said. | "It was used by these two defendants for processing, packaging and distributing in wholesale quantities high grade cocaine," he said. |
| Benjamin Squirrell, representing Modjiri, said his client had worked hard to improve himself, eventually winning a prized scholarship to the Bar but he became depressed when he failed to find chambers. | Benjamin Squirrell, representing Modjiri, said his client had worked hard to improve himself, eventually winning a prized scholarship to the Bar but he became depressed when he failed to find chambers. |
| "It was in that mindset he became involved in cocaine," said Mr Squirrell. | "It was in that mindset he became involved in cocaine," said Mr Squirrell. |