From farming pot to breaking out of jail to a life lived incognito for decades: the remarkable tale of honours graduate turned handyman in hiding, Darko Desic.
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.One Sunday afternoon in September 2021, a man walked into Dee Why Police Station, on Sydney’s northern beaches. He looked to be in his 60s, with a short silvery beard, neatly trimmed, and was dressed in a smart brown jacket and black jeans. “My name is Darko Desic,” he told the duty officer, in a thick eastern European accent. “I believe you’ve been looking for me.
After school, Desic wanted to become a professor of literature and philosophy, but at his father’s suggestion he studied engineering, graduating with honours in 1978. After that, he began his compulsory military service, training in an artillery regiment. Yugoslavia at that time was a federation of socialist republics, held together, since the end of World War II, by strongman Josip Broz Tito. “Tito was a dictator, but benevolent,” Desic says. In the army, Desic became a commissar.
The situation in Yugoslavia had drastically deteriorated. The economic crisis that had been sparked by Tito’s death, in 1980, had spiralled out of control. “Inflation was running rampant,” Desic remembers. He got a job as a mechanic for Jadrolinija, a Croatian shipping company, but his annual wage went from nine million dinars in 1987 to 45 million in early 1988. “You could not get coffee, you could not get detergent. You had to go to Italy to get them.”The federation was also unravelling.
Desic became quite the gardener. Drenched in the thick, wet heat of a north coast summer, his plants grew like trees, three metres tall and drooping with sticky, resinous heads the size of corn cobs. In 1989, he harvested 50 kilograms, which he divided up and buried in plastic drums throughout the forest. Whenever he organised a sale in Sydney, he would drive north and collect the requisite amount. He sold mainly in large quantities: five or six kilos at a time.
Desic realised that Zahn wanted money. As they approached the station, Zahn doubled down: “It’s your last chance,” he said. Desic didn’t budge. “I’m not that stupid,” he tells me. “Cops get their money and I get the same shit. So I just tell to f--- off.” Desic became a “sweeper”, an inmate whose job is to clean up and carry out other domestic tasks, for which he got paid a nominal wage. At one point he helped Ray, who was the activities officer, to organise a fun run that raised money for the children’s ward at Grafton Hospital. He also held hapkido classes, until the guards realised it probably wasn’t a great idea to teach prison inmates combat techniques.
One of the advantages of being a model inmate is that your requests are more likely to be met. A change of cells. A better job. “They want to keep the peace,” Desic says. Shortly after his aborted escape from Cessnock, he asked to be transferred to Grafton, “to be with my friends”. The authorities agreed.
About 15 metres away, he came to a mesh fence. He had fashioned an ersatz rope from his bed-clothes to help climb over it. But astonishingly, he found the fence gate unlocked. Desic continued on and soon found himself on the roof of the maintenance room. He shimmied down a drainpipe in the corner, went to the door of the building and found that it, too, was unlocked. “Unbelievable,” he says. “I go in, grab bolt-cutters, then go to . Cut flap and go through.
He was broke, but registering for unemployment benefits was out of the question, both ideologically and practically . He caught up with David Pascoe, who wasn’t entirely surprised to see him back in town, and who got him some labouring work. Also working for Pascoe was a man named Dean Cunningham. Cunningham found Desic fascinating. “He was friendly but guarded,” Cunningham says. “There was something about his demeanour, something secretive.” After about a year, Pascoe took Cunningham aside.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hawthorn delist former top-10 draft pick Denver Grainger-Barras after four years7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Former pilot Greg Lynn sentenced to 32 years for murdering missing camper Carol Clay7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Albanese govt reveals new China-focused role for former Labor premier Mark McGowanFormer Western Australian Labor premier Mark McGowan has been revealed to have a new China-focused role.
Read more »
Former premier Daniel Andrews appointed chairman of Orygen mental health organisationThe former Victorian premier has been appointed chair of Orygen.
Read more »
Former Maurice Blackburn lawyer sues over alleged workplace bullying and trauma7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model says Trump groped her to show off for Jeffrey Epstein&x27;His hands were just on me and didn&x27;t come off.&x27;
Read more »