Two former Dunkley's Dairy employees convicted last month of conspiracy to import over $2 million worth of cannabis will be launching an appeal, has learned.

Michael Madeiros, 41, and Steven Flood, 39, were found guilty of plotting to conceal the drug in a dairy container shipped from Salem, New Jersey, in October, 2003.

The trial received significant media attention after Shadow Health Minister and Dunkley's Dairy CEO Michael Dunkley was called on to testify for the Crown, represented by Paula Tyndale.

Mr. Dunkley claimed on the stand that both men confessed their guilt to him a few weeks after being arrested ? with the defence maintaining that Dunkley was hanging his former friends and employees out to dry to protect his company's name.

The duo's lawyer Mark Pettingill confirmed yesterday that "an appeal is pending" ? while adding he does not expect the case to reach the courts until at least November.

Flood and Madeiros appeared briefly at the Supreme Court monthly arraignment session on March 1, where Chief Justice Richard Ground ordered that they should reappear on April 1, when a sentencing date will be set.

As was revealed by on February 4, the trial was overshadowed by allegations of Police brutality and malpractice, with the officer in charge of the internal Police investigation into the matter, Inspector Craig Morfitt, ultimately recommending the prosecution of several narcotics officers.

The file has now been with the Department of Public Prosecutions for several weeks and it is still unclear as to whether charges will be brought against those implicated.

Director of Public Prosecutions Vinette Graham-Allen was in court for most of yesterday and did not respond to requests for information.