In the legal world, there’s a massive difference between being accused and being guilty. Sometimes, the police get so caught up in the “bust” that they forget the most basic rules of the game.
That’s exactly what happened in December of 2025 in the Broken Hill Local Court. Our lead attorney at The Online Lawyer, Robert Mulley, walked into court representing Mr. Zaher Finjan, who was facing serious charges involving the alleged transport of tobacco and “intent to defraud revenue.”
By the time Robert was done speaking with the police, the entire case was withdrawn.
Why? Because Robert did what he does best: he looked past the headlines and found a prosecution case that was, in his words, simply “weak.”
The Anatomy of a Win: 4 Reasons the Case Collapsed
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when the police charge you with a crime. But Robert’s approach is to stay grounded and look for the cracks. In this case, there weren’t just cracks—there were craters.
- Evidence isn’t “I reckon”: The police were convinced they were looking at tobacco. But in a courtroom, a police officer’s opinion isn’t enough. You need forensic, laboratory-tested proof. Without a lab report, it’s just a bag of dried leaves as far as the law is concerned.
- The Language Barrier: Our client didn’t speak a word of English. Despite this, he wasn’t offered an interpreter when he was taken to the station. If you can’t understand what’s happening, the system has failed you. Robert made sure that failure was front and centre.
- The Missing Tape: We’re in 2026—body cam footage is standard. When that footage is missing, it raises questions. Robert isn’t afraid to ask those questions loudly.
- The Chain of Custody: If the police can’t prove exactly who held the evidence and where it was kept every second since it was seized, that evidence is compromised. Here, the “chain of possession” was a mess.
A Tale of Two Outcomes
There’s a bit of a sting in the tail of this story. While Robert fought for Mr. Finjan and got the charges dropped entirely, a co-accused man (represented by a different legal team) took a very different path and pleaded guilty.
It’s a stark reminder: Who you choose to stand beside you in court matters. Robert Mulley doesn’t just “process” cases. He digs into them. He challenges the procedure, checks the paperwork, and ensures that if the authorities want to take away someone’s freedom or reputation, they better have done their homework.
Need Someone in Your Corner?
At The Online Lawyer, we’ve built our reputation on being accessible, human, and—above all—effective. Robert Mulley brings years of “on-the-ground” experience to a modern, digital firm, ensuring you get world-class representation whether you’re in a city office or a country court like Broken Hill.
If you’re facing a legal situation that feels “too big” to handle, remember that even the most serious-looking cases can fall apart under the right scrutiny.
Don’t settle for a guilty plea before you’ve explored your options. Chat with Robert and the team at The Online Lawyer today.
Link to full article: https://bhtimes.com.au/news/2025/12/30/tobacco-case-thrown-out/
