Mr Telford is alleged to have called the witness a “dog”. 

The maximum penalty for such a charge against Mr Telford is seven years imprisonment. 

Mr Telford’s first court appearance as a defendant is scheduled for the Mount Isa Magistrates Court on Monday, January 30. 

Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts said that Mr Telford was a respected member of the law society.

Mr Telford was entitled to be presumed innocent unless the court of law found otherwise, Mr Potts said. 

Mr Telford did notify the law society of the charge made against him, although was obliged to have done so.

“If he is convicted it is a matter of the Legal Services Commissioner to determine the course of action they take,” Mr Potts said. 

The law society would wait for the finalisation of the court proceedings, and had a duty to ensure the public was protected.

Officer in charge of the Organised Crime Investigation Unit, Detective Inspector Lance Vercoe, said that accusations against Mr Telford related to Cairns and Mount Isa based operations North Caliper and Oscar Lake, during which almost $1.5 million in property was impounded.

More than 20 people currently wait in the court system for drug related offences following a series of search warrants made in July. 

A witness was speaking to investigating police when Mr Telford allegedly “intimidated the witness verbally” in the presence of police, the Detective Inspector said. 

Police reviewed the circumstances and alleged it was a breach of section 119B of the Criminal Code. 

On Monday, December 19, the Organised Crime Investigation Unit officers issued Mr Telford with a summons to appear before the court. 

Anderson Telford Lawyers referred requests for comment to Mr Telford’s solicitor Glen Cranny, of Gilshenan & Luton Legal Practice.

Mr Cranny sought further instruction before determining whether to comment.  

The official charge against Mr Telford is worded; “retaliation/intimidation against a juror, witness and family.”