Sonya Georgalis, the ex-wife of prominent Canberra property developer Nick Georgalis, is contesting charges of supplying a prohibited drug and possessing a restricted substance, with her defense team highlighting her difficult personal circumstances following their 2023 separation.
Georgalis was allegedly found with 66.1 grams of cocaine, valued between approximately $19,800 and $26,400, and two tablets of the prescription opioid tapentadol in Redfern, Sydney, on May 19. She was subsequently arrested and charged.
Initially, Georgalis pleaded guilty to both charges at a bail court hearing the following day. She was granted bail with conditions including residing in Canberra and abstaining from alcohol and drugs. A sentencing assessment report was ordered.
However, at a subsequent hearing on July 17, Georgalis's legal team sought to withdraw her guilty pleas. Her solicitor, Jake Leighton, argued that she was under the influence of drugs when she entered the plea and did not fully comprehend the available defenses. The defense indicated an intention to contest the nature and weight of the alleged drug supply.
Judge Greg Grogin granted the application to withdraw the plea, and the court ordered police to serve a brief of evidence on Georgalis's legal team. The case was adjourned.
During a court appearance on Friday, represented by senior advocate AJ Nagendiram, Georgalis's defense stated that they intend to challenge the prosecution's case at a defended hearing. Nagendiram noted that the police brief of evidence had not yet been served, despite court orders. A registrar set a deadline for the brief's delivery by September 25 and scheduled the hearing for April of the following year.
Outside the court, Nagendiram emphasized that his client is presumed innocent and that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. He also pointed to the "significant and well-documented personal circumstances" following the breakdown of her marriage as context for the proceedings. He added that Georgalis initially entered her plea while in police custody under pressure and after obtaining independent legal advice, her legal team applied to traverse the plea.
Nick Georgalis, founder and managing director of the construction company Geocon and Iconic Hotels, and Sonya Georgalis sold their Red Hill estate in Canberra for $6.66 million in September 2023, setting a record for a single residence in the Australian Capital Territory at the time. Nick Georgalis is not accused of any wrongdoing in relation to the charges against his ex-wife.