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Daniel Ede – a former employee of Melbourne Gold Company – made the claims during an appearance at the County Koori Court in Melbourne.
Daniel Ede – a former employee of Melbourne Gold Company – made the claims during an appearance at the County Koori Court in Melbourne.

Melbourne Gold Company robbery defendant alleges “toxic” workplace

Daniel Ede, one of two defendants in the $3.2 million Melbourne Gold Company (MGC) robbery, has alleged he was subjected to racially-charged bullying while working at the Collins Street gold dealer.

Ede, 37, made the claim during an appearance at the County Koori Court – a specialist sentencing court that operates as division of the County Court – on 1 February while discussing his case with Judge David Sexton and Indigenous Elders Aunty Michelle Winters and Uncle Wally Harrison.

"It was a toxic environment from people who worked there, mainly the boss"
Daniel Ede, defendant

Police allege Ede planned the robbery – which took place in April 2020 – with his friend Karl Kachami, 48, who is currently serving a four-year sentence for his role in the crime. While Kachami led police to a cache of stolen goods and money, more than $300,000 remains unaccounted for.

Ede was arrested in May and initially protested his innocence, before pleading guilty to aggravated robbery and theft in October 2020.

The Age quotes Ede as saying MGC director Michael Kukulka was “the world’s worst boss”, adding, “It was a toxic environment from people who worked there, mainly the boss. Just the pressure he put on, the bullying – some of it racial... I felt quite trapped.”

Ede also claimed his wages had been reduced due to COVID-19 while his hours remained the same, leaving the married father-of-three in “a dark place”.

Mark Stanarevic, a legal representative for Kukulka, told The Age, “What the defendant says in their own mitigation, our client denies all of the allegations categorically.”

Kukulka viewed Ede’s County Koori Court appearance via video link. In his victim impact statement – which was read at an earlier hearing – Kukulka claimed to have known Ede for 15 years and said the crime had robbed him of his “faith in mateship”.

At Kachami’s sentencing in November, Judge Howard Mason also noted the event had caused Kukulka shock, turmoil, anxiety and a loss of reputation.

"What the defendant says in their own mitigation, our client denies all of the allegations categorically"
Mark Stanarevic, legal representative for Michael Kukulka

The Age reports that despite his claims of a negative work environment, Ede said he did not see himself as “a victim” and admitted that the robbery was “disgraceful”, adding, “Unfortunately I cannot turn back time and, moving forward, I would like to put things right.”

Uncle Wally Harrison and Aunty Michelle Winters both condemned his actions, with the latter saying, “We don’t want to see this type of behaviour in our community.”

Ede was remanded in custody and will next appear in court on 15 February.

 

More reading:
Melbourne Gold Company thief sentenced for $3.2m heist
Defendant in Melbourne Gold Company robbery faces court, awaits sentencing
Co-defendant in Melbourne Gold Company robbery pleads guilty
Defendant in Melbourne Gold Company robbery granted bail
Bail hearings held for defendants in Melbourne Gold Company robbery
Second man charged in $3.9 million Melbourne Gold Company robbery
‘Record-breaking’ armed robbery at gold dealer; colourful history revealed
 











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