A Canberra used car dealer has been sentenced to two years in jail but will serve the term in the community after pleading guilty to possessing a trafficable amount of cocaine.
Nicholas Kozac was caught when police stopped his tow truck, which was towing another vehicle. A search uncovered nearly 100 grams of cocaine concealed in a freezer bag within a hydraulic arm behind the car’s console.
Police described the concealment method as sophisticated.
The ACT Supreme Court also heard Kozac pleaded guilty to possessing money believed to be proceeds of crime, after police recovered $10,000 from his car and a further $40,000 from his residence more than a year later.
Chief Justice Lucy McCallum sentenced Kozac to an intensive corrections order, allowing him to serve his sentence in the community while completing 200 hours of community service.
The court heard Kozac told a pre-sentence report author that addiction had driven his choices, though Chief Justice McCallum noted his motive also appeared financial.
“He frankly admitted developing an expensive habit,” Chief Justice McCallum said, while noting the pre-sentence report was positive.
However, she emphasised “the trafficking offence was not an isolated offence” and that “he accepted he had let his addiction affect his choices at the time.”
Chief Justice McCallum told Kozac the sentence “reflects my optimism in your good qualities” but warned him that breaching conditions could result in actual jail time.
Addressing Kozac directly, she urged him to continue rehabilitation, saying “keep your nose clean.”
The case highlights ongoing challenges facing automotive retail businesses and the importance of maintaining professional standards within the dealer community.
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