Con Polites’ grave desecrated: Not enough evidence for police to lay charges

POLICE say there is insufficient evidence to lay charges over the desecration of late property tycoon Con Polites’ grave.

Con Polites’ grave was desecrated, with a dead cat found buried next to it in May. Police will not lay any charges over the bizarre incident. Pic: Tait Schmaal

• DISPUTE: Fight over money suspected in grave desecration
• PICTURES: How Con Polites became the king of Adelaide real estate
• BIZARRE: Macabre attack on real estate tycoon Con Polites’ grave

THERE is insufficient evidence to lay charges over the desecration of the grave of late property tycoon Con Polites, police say.

An SA Police spokeswoman said the criminal investigation into the bizarre attack, where a dead cat wrapped in a towel was found inside a pet carrier when police excavated Mr Polites’ 15-year-old Centennial Park burial plot on May 17, was unable to move forward.

“Insufficient evidence at this time prevents the progression of the criminal investigations to the laying of any charges,” the spokeswoman said.

On the same day of the macabre attack, a fresh animal liver inside a white container — with a red ribbon on top, a candle and a note — was also left at the Glenelg North home of his son, George Polites.

The attack coincided with George Polites’ birthday.

Sources close to the family had told The Advertiser a family feud had sparked both incidents.

They said the feud stemmed from the breakup of Con Polites’ multimillion-dollar fortune.

Con Polites, pictured in 1995, was one of SA’s wealthiest people during his reign as real estate king.

Lawyer Dimitrios Georgiadis, who represents the Polites Group, George Polites and the late Con Polites, told The Advertiser at the time of the incidents the company was “disturbed” by the series of events.

“It’s a family matter involving the grave of the late Con Polites,” he said.

Con Polites, who was one of South Australia’s wealthiest men, amassed a vast real estate portfolio across Adelaide and several CBD buildings still carry the Polites name.

George Polites took over his father’s empire when Con Polites died in 2001.

In December 2011, George Polites’ waterfront mansion at Glenelg North was peppered with up to 10 handgun bullets in a drive-by shooting, which he at the time said was a case of mistaken identity.

In the days following the attack on the grave, fences at the Polites Group-owned Glandore home of George Polites’ nephew Markas Salkanovic were torn down on multiple occasions by contractors.

On one of those occasions, an armed security guard was hired after a confrontation erupted between Mr Salkanovic and workers tasked to tear down fences.

Workers had rocks and dirt thrown at them and police were called to the unit after the confrontation.