Cold Case: Gold Coast police never caught killers of millionaire Russian murdered at Benowa Waters

THE Gold Coast is now a playground for blockbuster films but 16 years ago a real-life thriller replicating a Russian spy movie cast a dark scene at Benowa Waters.

Former Russian KGB Colonel Gennadi Bernovski was shot and killed at his Benowa Waters home in 2000.

THE Gold Coast is now a playground for blockbuster films but 16 years ago a real-life thriller replicating a Russian spy movie cast a dark scene at Benowa Waters.

And the murderer is still likely to be roaming free after fleeing the country.

A former KGB colonel was gunned down outside his Gold Coast mansion by “frogmen” who escaped under the cover of darkness and dived into the canals, never to be seen again.

Gennadi Bernovski, a millionaire businessman with links to the KGB and the Russian mafia, was shot five times on July 24, 2000, as he was taking out rubbish in the driveway.

His wife, Svetlana, and his six-year-old daughter found him as he tried to crawl back inside. He died as the paramedics arrived.

Police arriving at the home of murdered Russian businessman Gennadi Bernovski at 48 Sir Bruce Small Drive, Benowa Waters. Picture: David Clark

Mr Bernovski moved to the Gold Coast in the mid-1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It was here he continued to associate with businessmen he knew in Russia, according to police.

He had business links to Russians Oleg Kouzmine and Valentine Masnyi, who alleged in 1998 they were victims of a million-dollar Russian mafia extortion attempt.

However, the pair refused to testify in a trial and the case was dismissed.

It is believed the three men had business interests in Prima Foods, a smallgoods distribution company in West Burleigh.

Almost $1 million was allegedly missing from the business, including $400,000 owed to Mr Kouzmine.

Bullet holes in the door at the home of murdered Russian businessman Gennadi Bernovski in Benowa Waters.

He was one of the first people interviewed by police after Mr Bernovski’s death as details of the pair’s financial dispute quickly emerged.

Released without charge, Mr Kouzmine’s departure from Australia three days later coincided with police discovering his fingerprint at the crime scene.

A warrant was issued for his arrest in April 2001 but he remains at large. He is believed to be in Russia.

He is the main suspect but police do not believe he acted alone.

Burleigh CIB detective inspector Len Potts said at the time police were looking into an alleged confrontation between Mr Kouzmine and another Prima Foods business partner, Michael Shnirman.

Former Russian KGB Colonel Gennadi Bernovski (left) was killed in 2000. He is pictured with his wife Svetlena.

“No one can identify anyone,” Insp Potts said in 2000.

“No one was seen on the night of the murder.

“The only information we can say is (of) a witness who had been visiting friends near the house where the deceased was murdered.

“She parked her car and made a telephone call from her mobile telephone.

“While she was parked there, two men approached from behind her car, and they were dressed in either black Lycra suits or wetsuits — she’s uncertain because of the night time.

“They were seen to get into a vehicle and drive off.

Police at the home of murdered Russian businessman Gennadi Bernovski in Benowa Waters.

Insp Potts said Mr Bernovski, 41, had lived in Australia for four years and was a partner in a smallgoods business. Before coming to Australia he was a sergeant in the Russian police force.

“His immediate family are very decent people, and it doesn’t at this stage suggest that there’s anything unlawful in their activities,” he said.

Australia has no extradition treaty with Russia and the cold climate between Russia and the West means it’s likely that won’t change, he said.

Widow Svetlena Bernovski at Gennadi Bernovski’s burial site at Southport, after he was shot and killed at their Benowa Waters home. Picture: Adam Ward

Detectives from the state’s Cold Case Unit recently reviewed the case and tried to establish lines of communication with Russian police. Acting Detective Superintendent David Hutchinson said the case remained very much alive.

“There are still difficulties in dealing with Russia, but these cases are never closed,” he said.

Police have tried countless times to glean information about Mr Bernovski’s death but the Russian community has not been helpful.