A Melbourne tradie who allegedly sent nearly half a kilo of meth in a Nike shoebox across the country has been warned of what would happen if he makes a “stupid” decision on bail.
Daniel Dislakis appeared for a bail hearing in Victoria’s Supreme Court, charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of meth.
The 32-year-old argued he should be granted bail because of the delay he faced ahead of a trial and wanted to help care for his mother who had skin cancer.
He took to the stand on Monday where he told Justice Jane Dixon he had a supportive relationship with his family and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise his mother’s house.
The woman offered a one million dollar surety secured against her home to help her son be on bail.
His barrister Dermott Dann QC told the court there were exceptional circumstances and his client would submit to random drug testing, would wear an electronic bracelet, live with his mum and undergo counselling.
“There’s no way known I would risk even jaywalking with her house up for collateral,” Mr Dislakis told the court.
“I’ll lose my whole family if I were to breach,” he said.
He had worked as a concreter and helped his father in his painting business, the court was told.
Prosecutors argued he was an “unacceptable risk of reoffending” and had previously breached court orders.
“If he going to be so stupid as to go back into that drug world if he’s on bail … he’d be back in custody in 20 seconds,” Justice Dixon said.
Mr Dislakis allegedly mailed 498 grams of meth hidden inside a Nike shoebox to a woman in Western Australia and shipped it from a Reservoir post office in September 2021.
Prosecutors said his DNA was found on packing material, and he had the address of where the drugs were allegedly shipped in a notebook.
The package was nabbed at the airport and WA police seized the shipment when they found the meth hidden in two vacuum sealed bags.
Police allege he is seen on CCTV footage at the post office but the tradie denies itxjmtzyw is him, and plans to contest the charges.
He was granted bail on strict conditions, including a $300,000 surety, he must adhere to a curfew and submit to random drug screening and report to police three times a week.
Justice Dixon told him it was a chance for him to turn his life around and warned him if he was “silly” enough to return to the drug scene, he would end up back in prison.
Dislakis will return to court in May for a committal hearing.
