4 June 2000
13 Mr Gladman telephoned mobile number 0415 656 044 and told a woman who answered that he wished to buy three CD-ROMs he named. She said that she would put him onto her "husband" because he was the one who made deliveries. Mr Gladman and the "husband" arranged for the delivery of the CD-ROMs at the "Red Rooster" on the South Gippsland Highway in Cranbourne, Victoria. Later the same day, Mr Gladman met the driver of a white Mazda 929 sedan, registered number ONJ 593 at the car park there. The three CD-ROMs were sold for $30 which Mr Gladman paid in cash. With the three CD-ROMs there was delivered a long list of games available. Two telephone numbers appeared on the list:
Mobile No.: 0418 539 650
Mobile No.: 0415 656 044
(The mobile telephone number 0418 539 650 appeared in "order forms" which were seized at the home of Barry and Dominique on 13 February 2001 pursuant to the Anton Piller order.)
The man told Mr Gladman to telephone either of those numbers if he had any problems.
14 In the case of this purchase, as in the case of all others, Mr Gladman subsequently sealed up what was delivered to him and sent the sealed envelope to PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney.
20 October 2000
15 On this occasion Mr Gladman telephoned 0419 137 986, a number which appeared in the Melbourne Trading Post,and subsequently spoke to a man who said he was called "John". The applicants' case is that this "John" was in fact Frank, the fourth respondent. After Mr Gladman made known his request, the man said he would have to check with his "boss" to see if it would be all right for him to meet Mr Gladman somewhere around Healesville, as Mr Gladman had requested. Subsequently, "John" rang back and he and Mr Gladman agreed to meet. Mr Gladman ordered 20 CD-ROM games. "John" said that in some cases he did not have the CD-ROMs available and would have to "make up" the CD-ROMs in those cases.
16 Agreement was reached for the sale of 20 CD-ROMs for $100. Delivery took place at 18 Lansell Court, Rowville, the same afternoon. The person who made the delivery appeared to Mr Gladman to be approximately 55 years old, about five feet ten inches tall, of a medium build with greying, collar-length dark hair, of Indian or sub-continental descent, with a slight accent and wearing thick prescription glasses. In his affidavit Mr Gladman refers to this person as "the First Man" and I will do likewise. (It is the applicants' case that in fact the First Man was Mr Fabre, the third respondent.)
17 After delivering the CD-ROMs and taking payment in cash of $100, the First Man told Mr Gladman that he was also supposed to make another delivery of goods to the address of 18 Lansell Court, Rowville, but no-one was home. The First Man asked to use Mr Gladman's mobile telephone to call them. The First Man went to his car, a brown car, registered number FYH 959 ("the Brown Car"), opened the door and took out a white card bearing the name "Dean" and the telephone number 9759 7232. He asked Mr Gladman for permission to telephone his "boss" and Mr Gladman observed him dial 5996 5175 and heard him say:
"Hello Barry. I'm here at Lansell Court. Wayne is here but there is no-one home ... can you hurry, I'm ringing on Wayne's phone ... Okay, I'll wait for a few minutes."
(The applicants' case is that Mr Fabre was telephoning his son-in-law, Barry, the first respondent.)
18 There followed a further conversation between the First Man and Mr Gladman in which Mr Gladman complained that there was no list in the boxes of CD-ROMs. The First Man told him that he should "talk to Barry or Brian" who "should be able to get you all the games you want". The conversation continued:
"Gladman: 'Actually, don't worry, I'll catch up with him next time. I'm down next week. I'm from Yea and I'm going to get games from him and sell them up there. There's no one up there selling them.'
First Man: 'Yeah, that should be great. Just talk to Barry or Brian they should be able to get you all the games you want.'
Gladman: 'Actually I rang John today'.
First Man: 'That's okay. Just ring John on the number you rang. They're all part of the same group'.
Gladman: 'Okay, I'll give John a call'."
19 Mr Gladman then got back into his car and drove away. Again, he placed the CD-ROMs in plastic cases which he had received from the First Man into envelopes which he sealed and sent to PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney.
26 October 2000
20 On 25 October Mr Gladman telephoned mobile number 0419 137 986 and recognised the person who answered as "John", with whom he had conversed previously. Mr Gladman placed an order for 18 CD-ROMs. Mr Gladman asked for a list of the games available and "John" promised to ensure that a list was included. The following day, 26 October, Mr Gladman again telephoned mobile number 0419 137 986 and spoke to "John". Ultimately a meeting was arranged.
21 During the conversation, Mr Gladman heard the voice of a woman in the background, saying:
"I don't know, Frank. Brian, we need your help in here!"
22 On this occasion the CD-ROMs were delivered at the "Red Rooster" establishment at the corner of Ferntree Gully Road and Stephensons Road, Mt Waverley, Victoria. Before the delivery took place, Mr Gladman received a call on his mobile telephone from a person whose voice he recognised as being that of the First Man. The number displayed on his mobile telephone indicated that the call had come from mobile number 0418 389 686. The First Man said he was stuck in traffic and would arrive in about ten or fifteen minutes' time.
23 The First Man arrived in the same Brown Car. With the CD-ROMs there was delivered a lengthy list of available "PlayStation" games inside one of the boxes. After the transaction was completed and Mr Gladman drove away. Subsequently, he placed the CD-ROMs and the list in envelopes which he sealed and sent to PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney.
15 November 2000
24 On 14 November Mr Gladman telephoned mobile number 0419 137 986 and spoke to "John". Mr Gladman referred to his having bought CD-ROMs from "John" "a few weeks ago" which "John" acknowledged. Mr Gladman placed an order for 19 CD-ROMs. "John" confirmed that he already held Mr Gladman's contact number, 0407 507 694.
25 On 15 November Mr Gladman telephoned mobile number 0418 389 686, which I am satisfied was Barry's number, and spoke to a woman who, I am satisfied, was Dominique. She asked how Mr Gladman had obtained their telephone number. Mr Gladman replied that it had come up on his mobile telephone when he had been contacted previously. Dominique told Mr Gladman that "John" had not picked up the games yet.
26 Later, on the same day, Mr Gladman telephoned mobile number 0419 137 986 and recognised the voice of "John". After further telephone calls, the 19 CD-ROMs were delivered by the driver of a Mitsubishi Magna station wagon, registered number FBV 285, which entered the car park at the "Red Rooster" establishment at the corner of Stephensons Road and Ferntree Gully Road, Mt Waverley. The driver appeared to Mr Gladman to be about 50 years old and about 5 feet 7 inches tall, of slim build with brown hair and tanned complexion and with a moustache. He was wearing sunglasses. The applicants' case is that this was "John", that is, Frank.
27 The 19 CD-ROMs were delivered for a price of $100 which Mr Gladman handed over in cash. In the course of the conversation between the two men, Mr Gladman said that he had been re-selling to friends and contacts and "John" said: "Yeah you've got to be careful. It's illegal after all".
28 The two men had a lengthy conversation in which "John" told Mr Gladman much about the business, using the pronoun "we". For example, he said:
"Actually we supply to a lot of the dealers. We sell to them for $5 and then they put a cover on it and sell for $10. We've got a good product. All our games come off a 'RAF' file, they are not copies of copies of games like some are".
He said that the business had been operating for five or six years.
29 The next day, 16 November 2000, Mr Gladman put the CD-ROMs in plastic cases and a list document headed "PlayStation Games" which he had received from "John" in a yellow envelope which he sealed and sent to PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney.
3 January 2001
30 Mr Gladman telephoned number 5996 5175. The telephone was answered by a female, who, I am satisfied, was Dominique. Mr Gladman asked if "Barry" was there and was told he was asleep. Mr Gladman said he was "Wayne from Yea" and had bought "PlayStation" games from them previously. He said he had been trying to telephone "John" but his mobile telephone was not answering and he (Mr Gladman) was wondering if the woman had another number for "John". She asked how Mr Gladman had their number because "we don't normally sell games on this number". Mr Gladman explained that "your" courier had telephoned Barry from his (Mr Gladman's) phone when the courier made a delivery a couple of months earlier and he (Mr Gladman) had just kept the number. (Clearly the reference was to the First Man's telephone call to his "boss" on 20 October 2000.) Mr Gladman said he normally rang "John" on 0419 137 986 but could not raise him. Dominique said she would get Barry. A short time later Mr Gladman heard a male voice and I am satisfied that this was Barry. Barry told Mr Gladman he would get "John" to telephone him.
31 Later the same day Mr Gladman received a telephone call on his mobile telephone and the number displayed indicated that the call originated from telephone number 5996 2120. Mr Gladman recognised the voice of "John". Mr Gladman placed an order for CD-ROMs and they agreed upon a delivery at "Red Rooster" at the corner of Stephensons Road and Ferntree Gully Road, Mt Waverley.
32 Yet later on the same day Mr Gladman received a call on his mobile telephone from mobile number 0418 389 686. The caller said that he was the courier. Later the same day in the car park of the "Red Rooster" store, the Brown Car arrived and Mr Gladman recognised the driver as the First Man from whom Mr Gladman had made the purchases on 20 October and 26 October. Delivery was effected and Mr Gladman handed over $100 in cash.
33 As on previous occasions Mr Gladman placed the CD-ROMs and accompanying list of "PlayStation" games into an envelope, which he sealed and sent to PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sydney.
5 February 2001
34 Mr Gladman telephoned mobile number 0419 137 986 and recognised the voice of "John". A purchase was arranged. The order was for 16 CD-ROMs.
35 Later, on the same day, Mr Gladman telephoned the same number and spoke to "John" who told him the courier had just left and would give him (Mr Gladman) a call. Mr Gladman's other mobile telephone rang at this time and he ceased his conversation with "John". The number display on Mr Gladman's mobile telephone indicated that the call was from mobile number 0414 653 635. The caller said he was the courier and was on his way. Later the same day, at the intersection of Princes Highway and South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong, Mr Gladman observed the First Man standing on the footpath outside the Brown Car. The two men met and completed their transaction for a price of $100.
36 Again, Mr Gladman subsequently placed the CD-ROMs in an envelope which he sealed and, on this occasion, despatched to Allens.