When he was asked to pour large amounts of iodine from one container into another at the Sydney chemical company where he worked, Paul Flavell pushed back, worried about where it would end up.
The former Cyndan Chemicals employee was one of multiple witnesses to appear at Central Local Court, where the company's former director Michael Snounou was committed on Friday to stand trial.Mr Snonou will stand trial for 32 offences, including importing hypophosphrous acid and gamma-butyrolactone and possessing iodine, all suspected of being used in the manufacture of methylamphetamine, or ice.
Precursor chemicals can be legally imported in line with strict regulations however authorities are increasingly observing legitimate precursors being re-purposed to manufacture drugs like ice and ecstasy. Mr Flavell gave evidence that iodine was among chemicals Cyndan "were not using in the factory to make anything," and that "after the fire it was my job" to repackage iodine into unmarked drums.Mr Flavell said this direction came from his immediate boss Caan Phillips, a current director of Chemlux Pty Ltd, trading as Cyndan Chemicals, and a witness during the committal hearing.
"If Michael wasn't there I would get a phone call saying, Michael needs these ... Michael wants five or six buckets by Thursday."