Lane Cove Senior Ranger Vladimir Kotlyar Pleads Guilty to Seven Charges

In October 2020, Vladimir Kotlyar, Lane Cove’s Senior Ranger, 56, was arrested in Wollstonecraft after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers allegedly discovered firearm parts in parcels.  He was in jail until 11 November 2020, when he was released on bail.

In November 2020, The Manly Daily reported:

“In a bail application on Wednesday, Manly Local Court was told that Mr Kotlyar, who has been the head ranger at Lane Cove for 10 years, was a “prolific collector” of old firearms and once held licences for 37 guns.

Magistrate Michelle Goodwin heard that he had to surrender those guns earlier this year as part of the condition of an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order, which is still in place.”

The Manly Daily further reported that Mr Kotlyar solicitor Justin Lewis (when applying for bail), said the silencer allegedly sent from The Netherlands was actually a solvent filter used to clean guns barrels and that the pistol frame seized as part of an “air soft” gun that is used to fire plastic pellets.

You can read the full Manly Daily Story here (paywall applies).

Guilty Plea

The Local Court Media Officer has advised ITC that Mr Kotlyar pleaded guilty to the following offences:

One count of importing prohibited Tier 2 goods without approval, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 

Penalty: Sentenced to a Community Correction Order of 2 years commencing 13 July 2021.   The Community Correction Order (CCO) was subject to the following additional orders:

• subject to supervision by a community corrections officer at St Leonards for the period of the CCO;
• must perform 150 hours of community service work

Another count of importing prohibited Tier 2 goods without approval, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 

Penalty: Sentenced to a Community Correction Order of 2 years commencing 13 July 2021.   The Community Correction Order (CCO) was subject to the following additional orders:

• subject to supervision by a community corrections officer at St Leonards for the period of the CCO;
• must perform 150 hours of community service work

One count of possess unauthorised pistol T2

Penalty: Sentenced to a Community Correction Order of 2 years commencing 13 July 2021.   The Community Correction Order (CCO) was subject to the following additional orders:

• subject to supervision by a community corrections officer at St Leonards for the period of the CCO;
• must perform 150 hours of community service work

One count of Possess a barrel without authority or licence

Penalty: Sentenced to a Community Correction Order of 2 years commencing 13 July 2021.   The Community Correction Order (CCO) was subject to the following additional orders:

• subject to supervision by a community corrections officer at St Leonards for the period of the CCO;
• must perform 150 hours of community service work

One count of Posses ammunition without holding a licence/permit/authorisation

Penalty: Fine $1000

One count of Possess a barrel without holding a licence/permit/authorisation

Penalty: Fine $500

One count of Possess a prohibited weapon without a permit

Penalty: Sentenced to a Community Correction Order of 2 years commencing 13 July 2021.   The Community Correction Order (CCO) was subject to the following additional orders:

• subject to supervision by a community corrections officer at St Leonards for the period of the CCO;
• must perform 150 hours of community service work

Note:  the community service is 150 hours in total.

Mr Kotlyar has been on desk duties at Lane Cove Council after he used up his annual leave entitlements.

News Limited reported that Mr Kotylar desk at Lane Cove Council was searched and reported:

“A search of his workplace, watched on by Lane Cove Council’s executive manager, found three extendible batons and a box of hollow point firearm cartridges.” 

They also reported:

“The Wollstonecraft man’s predicament went from bad to worse in July when police officers seized his stash of 37 firearms and ammo and had his firearm licence suspended as a result of a domestic violence investigation and apprehended domestic violence order.”

Read their report here note paywall applies.

Background

Investigations began after ABF officers at the Melbourne Gateway Facility located a silencer and other firearm parts in a consignment from the Netherlands in April. A second package was detected at the Sydney Gateway Facility in May. The consignment contained a semi-automatic handgun frame.

A Sydney man has been charged over the alleged importation of firearm parts.
ABF officers detected firearm parts in parcels at two separate mail centres earlier this year.
The ensuing investigation led to the arrest of a 56-year-old Wollstonecraft man. https://t.co/1u9dG56NZM pic.twitter.com/MURsxErz4X

— ABF (@AusBorderForce) October 22, 2020

On Wednesday, 21 October 2020, ABF investigators executed warrants at premises in Wollstonecraft and Lane Cove with the assistance of the NSW Police Force.

During the warrants, several items were seized, including an unregistered firearm, a silencer, a firearm grip, extendable batons and electronic devices.

Mr Kotylar was arrested at Wollstonecraft and taken to Chatswood Police Station. He was charged with two counts of importing prohibited Tier 2 goods without approval, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901.  The maximum penalty was up to 10 years imprisonment and/or fines of up to 555,000.

Detectives from North Shore Police Area Command charged Mr Kotylar with possessing an unauthorised pistol, possess a barrel without the authority of licence/permit, and possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority.