Former Wentworth candidate Daniel Lewkovitz pleads not guilty to choking

A former federal election candidate and security expert who is a committee member at a Sydney religious organisation has enlisted one of Sydney’s most prominent barristers to fight a choking allegation.

Daniel Gideon Lewkovitz leaving Waverley Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Aymon Bertah

A former political hopeful and a committee member at a Sydney religious organisation has secured one of Sydney’s most sought-after silks to defend a choking allegation.

Calamity Monitoring CEO Daniel Gideon Lewkovitz appeared alongside renowned barrister Margaret Cunneen SC at Waverley Local Court on Thursday as he pleaded not guilty to one count of intentionally choking a person without consent.

Police allege in court documents the 48-year-old did choke a person this year.

Ms Cunneen told the court Lewkovitz was looking for the matter to be dealt with as soon as possible, with Magistrate Michael Barko setting the matter for hearing later in the year.

She estimated the hearing would roughly take half a day, with a police prosecutor telling the court the mini-brief of evidence had yet to be served.

Daniel Lewkovitz leaving Waverley Local Court with high-profile barrister Margaret Cunneen SC on Thursday.

Lewkovitz is listed as a committee member for the Australian Jewish Association, a community organisation led by Dr David Adler in support of “centre-right, conservative Australian values”.

The organisation specifies its advocacy for policies advancing “individual liberty, economic freedom, limited government, a strong national defence, and the primacy of Australian law”.

Lewkovitz was also a Liberal Democrat candidate in the prestigious eastern suburbs electorate of Wentworth in the 2022 federal election, where he received 1.5 per cent of the vote.

His LinkedIn profile indicates he has worked in security and risk management for three decades, and established Calamity Monitoring - where he says he is a “fearless security innovator” - in 2007.

The AJA website states Calamity Monitoring is responsible for “protecting $2 billion worth of assets and tens of thousands of individuals” throughout the country, offering “end-to-end security from brick walls to firewalls”.

According to his X biography, Lewkovitz is also a broadcaster at independent digital media company ADH TV and an occasional panelist on Sky News.

Lewkovitz’s hearing has been set down for December.

The AJA have been contacted for comment.