Latest news with #Makhoul
The Advertiser
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Ex-NRL flyer 'relieved' after cops drop drug, cash case
A feted former NRL speedster has been cleared of possessing drugs and suspected stolen cash after police withdrew the charges against him at the last minute. James Roberts, 32, who played more than 160 NRL games for five clubs during his career, pleaded not guilty to possessing a prohibited drug and suspected stolen goods. Police allege he had 0.3 gram of cannabis and $1400 in suspected stolen cash when he was pulled over on the morning of July 30, 2024. But the charges against the 2015 Dally M centre of the year were withdrawn by police at a court hearing where he was scheduled to contest them on Monday morning. Outside court, his lawyer Najee Makhoul said there had been no evidence to link the former NRL player to the offences. Police assumed Roberts' wad of cash was illegally obtained but that was "just not the case at all," Mr Makhoul said. The retired footballer received cash payments for NRL outings and appearances, and might withdraw funds from his bank, his lawyer said. "That was the case here, and was just a wrong charge laid for the wrong reasons, and unfortunately he faced the consequences as a result," Mr Makhoul said. The small amount of cannabis likewise couldn't be linked to Roberts because it had been found in his passenger's bag. Roberts, who did not appear in court on Monday, is looking forward to putting the ordeal behind him, Mr Makhoul said. "It's a very fortunate outcome," he said. Nicknamed "Jimmy the Jet" for his speed, Roberts played for the Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos across 12 seasons in the NRL. He appeared in all three games for NSW in the team's successful 2018 State of Origin campaign and played for the Indigenous All Stars and City Origin before retiring in 2022. A feted former NRL speedster has been cleared of possessing drugs and suspected stolen cash after police withdrew the charges against him at the last minute. James Roberts, 32, who played more than 160 NRL games for five clubs during his career, pleaded not guilty to possessing a prohibited drug and suspected stolen goods. Police allege he had 0.3 gram of cannabis and $1400 in suspected stolen cash when he was pulled over on the morning of July 30, 2024. But the charges against the 2015 Dally M centre of the year were withdrawn by police at a court hearing where he was scheduled to contest them on Monday morning. Outside court, his lawyer Najee Makhoul said there had been no evidence to link the former NRL player to the offences. Police assumed Roberts' wad of cash was illegally obtained but that was "just not the case at all," Mr Makhoul said. The retired footballer received cash payments for NRL outings and appearances, and might withdraw funds from his bank, his lawyer said. "That was the case here, and was just a wrong charge laid for the wrong reasons, and unfortunately he faced the consequences as a result," Mr Makhoul said. The small amount of cannabis likewise couldn't be linked to Roberts because it had been found in his passenger's bag. Roberts, who did not appear in court on Monday, is looking forward to putting the ordeal behind him, Mr Makhoul said. "It's a very fortunate outcome," he said. Nicknamed "Jimmy the Jet" for his speed, Roberts played for the Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos across 12 seasons in the NRL. He appeared in all three games for NSW in the team's successful 2018 State of Origin campaign and played for the Indigenous All Stars and City Origin before retiring in 2022. A feted former NRL speedster has been cleared of possessing drugs and suspected stolen cash after police withdrew the charges against him at the last minute. James Roberts, 32, who played more than 160 NRL games for five clubs during his career, pleaded not guilty to possessing a prohibited drug and suspected stolen goods. Police allege he had 0.3 gram of cannabis and $1400 in suspected stolen cash when he was pulled over on the morning of July 30, 2024. But the charges against the 2015 Dally M centre of the year were withdrawn by police at a court hearing where he was scheduled to contest them on Monday morning. Outside court, his lawyer Najee Makhoul said there had been no evidence to link the former NRL player to the offences. Police assumed Roberts' wad of cash was illegally obtained but that was "just not the case at all," Mr Makhoul said. The retired footballer received cash payments for NRL outings and appearances, and might withdraw funds from his bank, his lawyer said. "That was the case here, and was just a wrong charge laid for the wrong reasons, and unfortunately he faced the consequences as a result," Mr Makhoul said. The small amount of cannabis likewise couldn't be linked to Roberts because it had been found in his passenger's bag. Roberts, who did not appear in court on Monday, is looking forward to putting the ordeal behind him, Mr Makhoul said. "It's a very fortunate outcome," he said. Nicknamed "Jimmy the Jet" for his speed, Roberts played for the Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos across 12 seasons in the NRL. He appeared in all three games for NSW in the team's successful 2018 State of Origin campaign and played for the Indigenous All Stars and City Origin before retiring in 2022.
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Ex-NRL flyer 'relieved' after cops drop drug, cash case
A feted former NRL speedster has been cleared of possessing drugs and suspected stolen cash after police withdrew the charges against him at the last minute. James Roberts, 32, who played more than 160 NRL games for five clubs during his career, pleaded not guilty to possessing a prohibited drug and suspected stolen goods. Police allege he had 0.3 gram of cannabis and $1400 in suspected stolen cash when he was pulled over on the morning of July 30, 2024. But the charges against the 2015 Dally M centre of the year were withdrawn by police at a court hearing where he was scheduled to contest them on Monday morning. Outside court, his lawyer Najee Makhoul said there had been no evidence to link the former NRL player to the offences. Police assumed Roberts' wad of cash was illegally obtained but that was "just not the case at all," Mr Makhoul said. The retired footballer received cash payments for NRL outings and appearances, and might withdraw funds from his bank, his lawyer said. "That was the case here, and was just a wrong charge laid for the wrong reasons, and unfortunately he faced the consequences as a result," Mr Makhoul said. The small amount of cannabis likewise couldn't be linked to Roberts because it had been found in his passenger's bag. Roberts, who did not appear in court on Monday, is looking forward to putting the ordeal behind him, Mr Makhoul said. "It's a very fortunate outcome," he said. "(Roberts) is relieved, relieved for it to be done. He wants to continue with his life and move on." Nicknamed "Jimmy the Jet" for his speed, Roberts played for the Wests Tigers, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Penrith Panthers, Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos across 12 seasons in the NRL. He appeared in all three games for NSW in the team's successful 2018 State of Origin campaign and played for the Indigenous All Stars and City Origin before retiring in 2022.
The Age
07-07-2025
- The Age
Ex-NRL star James Roberts cleared of drugs, cash charges
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. 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. '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.
Sydney Morning Herald
07-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Ex-NRL star James Roberts cleared of drugs, cash charges
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. 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. '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.
Arab News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Highlights from Bashir Makhoul's ‘The Promise' at Zawyeh Gallery
'Drift' The Galilee-born British-Palestinian artist's solo show's title, according to the gallery, 'encapsulates a poetic and ambiguous statement of intent — an assertion that is both an event and a transformation. A promise is made and, inevitably, can be broken.' That is the duality at the heart of Makhoul's practice, as is the recurring motif of the house. 'Deep Wounds' This work is part of a series of painted wooden sculptures, each of which bears a carved hollow scar, disrupting its 'wholeness.' 'These wounds are marks not just of trauma but also spaces of beginnings, resonating with Edward Said's notion of origins as an act of cutting open, a rupture that invites multiple directions.' 'My Olive Tree' Makhoul has been experimenting with electroplated 3D printing to produce crystalline machine-generated structures that 'paradoxically resemble organic formations' such as those seen in this work representing Makhoul's own tree which stands between two plots of land he does not own.
