Joseph Kaci makes successful mental health bid over drug, damage charges

A pastor’s son had his charges dismissed on mental health grounds after he was allegedly found slumped in a car with drugs in his bag before he also allegedly later resisted police. Read what gang name he wrote in custody.

Joseph Lee Kaci successfully had charges dismissed under the Mental Health Act in Sutherland Local Court. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A pastor’s son had charges dismissed under mental health grounds after he carved a gang name into a police panel, a court has heard.

Joseph Lee Kaci, 26, was arrested for allegedly being found with drugs following a car collision.

He successfully applied for his charges to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Monday.

Police documents state Kaci – who was disqualified from driving – was allegedly in the car when he drove it forward and hit a brick fence in Narwee on August 2.

Residents called police who arrived to allegedly find Kaci in the driver’s seat, almost passed out.

Paramedics were called and found Kaci was difficult to rouse, drowsily answered questions and they suspected he was affected by drugs, the police document states.

Defence lawyers Ahmed Dib and Asiya Chebbo represented Joseph Kaci. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Police allegedly found 9.3g of meth in small bags inside a Gucci satchel bag along with a pill bottle of Alprazolam and Lyrica tablets which were allegedly not prescribed to him.

Documents said police also allegedly found a Medicare card and security industry licence which were not in Kaci’s name.

Kaci was taken to Bankstown Hospital and where police questioned him.

Kaci who denied being the driver at the time of the collision, claiming a mate was driving and had given him Xanax causing him to “get off his head and spin out,” the police document states.

After he was discharged, Kaci, who was being escorted into a police vehicle by police, allegedly attempted to escape.

Kaci appeared in Sutherland Local Court.

He ran a short distance away and allegedly assaulted an officer before he was handcuffed.

Specialist tactical officers were needed to move Kaci into custody at the police station due to his alleged aggression.

The facts also state, Kaci used his handcuffs to carve gang symbols “Greenacre MMM KVT” and “FK Campsie Police” and into perspex of his cell, which was captured on CCTV. Kaci pleaded guilty to the charge.

The KVT is a gang across Sydney’s west, made up of mainly young Fijian men. There was no allegation made in court Kaci was a member of the gang.

Kaci – who lives in Horningsea Park- was charged with assaulting a person with intent to resist apprehension, possessing prohibited drugs, possessing a prescribed restricted substance, recklessly dealing with process of crime, driving while disqualified and damaging property.

In court, high-profile lawyer Ahmed Dib said Kaci’s father, who was a pastor at a local church, had told his son to move back into the family home following his arrest.

Mr Dib said Kaci’s family were helping him to rehabilitate through the Salvation Army Foundation and he had resumed going to church.

The court heard Kaci’s experience of “tough love” affected his mental health and Kaci started taking drugs.

He said his client recognised that allegedly pushing a police officer twice before he tried to run away was “absolutely ridiculous and foolish behaviour” and he took responsibility for his actions.

Mr Dib said a psychological report noted there was a nexus between Kaci’s mental health, diagnosis of bipolar, substance abuse disorder and the offending.

Magistrate Jillian Kiely said Kaci’s actions were “anti-social and immature” and were committed while he was heavily affected by drugs.

She accepted the treatment plan was likely to address Kaci’s conduct before she dismissed the charges under the Mental Health Act with Kaci to be supervised by his psychologist.