Koby Dewar: Bundaberg businessman faces Military court

A scrotum-exposing air force member-turned businessmen has faced the Defence Force Magistrates Court in Canberra over misbehaviour at a Perth house party.

A former air-force member turned small-businessman who exposed his scrotum and made lewd comments to a female service member at a Perth house party has fronted the Defence Force Magistrates Court in Canberra.

Bundaberg man, Koby Dewar, 29, pleaded guilty to four counts of prejudicial conduct when he fronted court via video link on Friday.

He initially faced charges including assaulting a superior officer and an act of indecency without consent, however these charges were downgraded to prejudicial conduct.

Prejudicial conduct refers to offences likely to prejudice defence force discipline or bring discredit on the ADF and carries the maximum sentence of three months civilian imprisonment.

Dewar, a former air-force member pleaded guilty to four counts of prejudicial conduct

The court heard on the night of March 5 last year Dewar attended a house party at a “course house” in Perth where the incidents took place.

During a drinking game Dewar exposed his scrotum to party members including a female ADF member who held the rank of Leading Aircraftswoman.

While the woman was present while Dewar flashed his privates, it was determined his behaviour while “boorish” was not directed at the woman or any other individual and did not have a sexual connotation therefore it was not indecent.

During the party Dewar approached the same Leading Aircraftswoman and made lewd comments to her.

He first propositioned her asking if she would want to have a threesome with him and later said “nice tits” to her.

In a victim impact statement the woman said she felt targeted by Dewar and confused by his comments because they were only acquaintances.

“I was sexualised and objectified,” the statement read

“I felt so small in that moment.”

Dewar was a member of Australian Defence Force before moving to the air force. Picture: Alix Sweeney

A colleague who held the rank of lieutenant in the navy confronted Dewar after being made aware of his comments to the woman.

The man reportedly said “don’t be a c**t, offer her a genuine apology,” to Dewar.

Dewar then “behaved aggressively” towards the lieutenant.

For this action Dewar was initially charged with assaulting a superior officer which was downgraded to prejudicial conduct.

Defence Force Magistrate Brigader Michael Cowen said while the male victim used inappropriate language to confront Dewar he was still “to be commended for at least not being a bystander.”

“(Dewar) you were older than a lot of your colleagues, you should have been setting the example” Brig Cowan said.

The court heard Dewar had voluntarily left the ADF on October 28 leaving behind a career spanning over a decade.

He enlisted first in the Army in 2010 where he achieved the rank of Proficient Private and was deployed to the Philippines.

He was fined $1500 and convicted without punishment.

In 2018 Dewar transferred to the air force and during this time he was the dux of his training program and held the rank of Pilot Officer.

Prior to leaving the ADF Dewar was suspended with pay for a period between April 13 to October 27 2021 due to the charges against him.

The court heard suspended from the ADF he moved from WA back to his hometown of Bundaberg where he started a small business and got engaged to his partner.

Defending officer Lieutenant Commander Andrew McLean-Williams told the court his client had some capacity to pay a fine but said most of his money was invested in his new small business.

Dewar was fined a total $1500 for the first three charges and was convicted without punishment for the fourth count of

Brig Cowen suspended the first two fines amounting to $1000 meaning Dewar would only need to pay $500.