EXCLUSIVE DNA TEST ON DRUGS
Cops will test drugs found in Bomber’s city pad to see who handled them
MORE charges could be laid as police perform DNA tests on drugs found at Mark “Bomber” Thompson’s home.
It comes as a second bid for bail was refused yesterday for Katia Drcec (pictured above), the 22-year-old embroiled in the investigation. A Geelong court was told Ms Drcec could face charges of trafficking a commercial quantity if DNA tests linked her to drugs seized at two properties. One of those properties is Thompson’s Port Melbourne home.
MORE charges could be laid as police perform DNA tests on drugs found at Mark “Bomber” Thompson’s home.
It comes as a second bid for bail was refused yesterday for a 22-year-old woman embroiled in the investigation.
Katia Drcec, of Mill Park, will remain behind bars after Magistrate Ann McGarvie ruled she was an unacceptable risk of committing offences if released on bail.
Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard Ms Drcec was slapped with three new charges yesterday, including another count of trafficking drugs.
She has been in custody since being arrested in a car with co-accused Karl “Bang Bang” Holt in Corio on January 4.
The intercept led to a raid on the Mill Park home the pair shared with Ms Drcec’s mother.
Police allege they found 336g of a white crystal substance in the car and the home, along with a working handgun, more than $25,000 cash and stolen property.
Detective Acting Sergeant Naomi Bourke told the court Ms Drcec could face charges of trafficking a commercial quantity if DNA tests linked her to drugs seized at two other properties. One of those properties is Thompson’s Port Melbourne home, which was raided by police one day after Ms Drcec and Mr Holt were arrested.
Thompson was interviewed by police but has not been charged.
Yesterday’s hearing was told the new trafficking charge against Ms Drcec came after an analysis of her phone showed evidence of drug dealing dating to October 2016, while she was serving a community corrections order.
Sgt Bourke said the alleged trafficking predated Ms Drcec’s involvement with Mr Holt, which she said started in September or October last year.
Mr Holt, formerly of Lara, is also facing a charge of drug trafficking and has been in custody since police swooped on his car last month.
During yesterday’s hearing, Ms Drcec’s mother Rosa Ivancic took to the stand to say Mr Holt was no longer welcome at her home.
But it later emerged Mr Holt had made several calls to Ms Ivancic from prison.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kylie Jane said detectives were investigating the calls.
Opposing bail, Sen-Constable Jane said the charges were serious and pointed out Ms Drcec had 22 previous warrants issued for her arrest for failing to appear in court.
“There’s a gun, money and drugs; those are three things the community does not want to see, especially in combination,” she said.
The court heard Ms Drcec had been smoking ice since she was 15 and was using 3.5g a day last year.
Ms Ivancic, who has muscular dystrophy, said Ms Drcec was her carer and she needed her daughter home to help her take medication and attend appointments.
But Sgt Bourke said Ms Ivancic had previously told police she was “a prisoner in her own home”.
“The state of the house also showed, in my opinion, Ms Drcec was not correctly looking after her mother,” she said.
“Texts on her phone also show she told her she was going down the street to pick up medication for her, but at that time she was in Corio when we arrested her.”
Ms McGarvie said Ms Drcec was staring down a term of imprisonment, even if she entered an early guilty plea.
“The fact Mr Holt continues to contact the mother is of concern,” she said.
“I’m not satisfied any conditions imposed can reduce the risk of Ms Drcec failing to appear in court ... or continue to offend given the sophisticated nature of the allegations against her.”
Ms Drcec was remanded until her next court appearance on February 20.
Thomas Windsor, 28, has also been charged with drug trafficking as part of the wideranging investigation.
Mr Windsor and Mr Holt — both understood to have bikie links — are yet to face court.