8 June 2015
Covering Endeavour Hills, Doveton & Hallam
A Star News Group Publication
Son’s legacy lives on
White ribbon showdown
Property liftout
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SPORT
INSIDE
TA ST EF UL LY
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Monday, 8 June 2015
ST UN N IN G
■ Court shocked after police find gun and ammunition in car...
Shotgun slammer By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
1170560-ACM06-15
A CONVICTED sex offender who pleaded guilty to multiple drugs, theft, traffic and weapons offences including possession of a concealed sawn-off shotgun in his car has been jailed for two years. Alex Kovalski, 34, of Bentleigh East, faced judgement in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Monday 1 June. In December, an “argumentative” and “drug-effected” Kovalski appeared to try to evade police by steering his vehicle into an Endeavour Hills side-street, police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Adam Green told the court. A bum bag on the passenger seat contained three vials of anabolic steroids, $650 cash, a small amount of an illicit drug, privilege and credit cards which did not belong to him, and a facemask. Also in the vehicle were a pocket knife, a scalpel and another knife. Further searches uncovered a double-barrel sawn-off 12-gauge shotgun in three parts
with live shotgun rounds, and two clear bags of ice totalling 2.5 grams. Kovalski co-operated with police as they searched his makeshift residence inside his Mulgrave vehicle customising factory, where he had been sleeping since he split with his girlfriend. Among the items found were 57 rounds of ammunition, a silver knife, an imitation firearm, a Winchester shotgun, 6.5 grams of ice, cocaine, counterfeit $100 and $50 notes, several mobile phones and a ballistics vest. The accused was also charged with theft after riding unlicensed on a stolen, unregistered motorcycle on Stud Road, speeding by more than 20 km/h over the limit in October. Kovalski also pleaded guilty on Monday to multiple counts of driving while suspended. Kovalski admitted to an ice habit which escalated when his relationship broke down – though his lawyer told the court he was a heavier user of cocaine. He had never owned a
firearms licence, the court was told. Defence lawyer Michelle Mykytowycz said Kovalski’s offending mainly stemmed from a personality disorder. Kovalski, who had been remanded in custody since December, had “grown up” and had plans to marry his partner when released, his lawyer said. He had complied with parole, a community corrections order and a suspended sentence in the past, she said. Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Kovalski’s secret firearm seemed to be for an “illegal purpose” and that the offences posed a “very high” community risk. He took into account Kovalski’s co-operation with police, his loyal family and partner, his growing insight into his crimes and his high intelligence. Kovalski was set a non-parole period of 12 months, with 156 days served already in presentence detention. He was also fined $1500 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Packing a punch
BRAD Huggett can count himself among the state’s top young manufacturers. He established Rebul Packaging in Hallam nine years ago and was last month a finalist for the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame’s Young Manufacturer of the Year award. See page 47 for the full story. 139723 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
VALLEY Phone: 9793 3354 VILLAGE Fax: 9793 7154 MEWS villagemews@iinet.net.au RETIREMENT www.valleyvillagemews.com.au VILLAGE 112 STUD ROAD DANDENONG Call in to meet our friendly staff to show you why you should make Valley Village Mews your home.
“Here’s How I Made A 57-year Old Factory Worker A Property Millionaire.” www.safesuperhomes.com.au/property
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