Melbourne mum Lara Domajnko aka Lara Saunders guilty of drug, proceeds of crime charges: Court
A Melbourne mum thrust her daughter into a drug syndicate probe, claiming $7500 in suspect cash was the child’s “savings”.
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An unemployed mum caught with drugs, cash and designer handbags claimed $7500 stashed in a hidden book was her daughter’s “savings”.
Lara Domajnko, 36, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday to a good behaviour bond after she was found guilty of dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Domajnko – aka Lara Saunders – was also found guilty of possessing meth and 1,4 butanediol but avoided a conviction.
Domajnko, a chartered accountant who previously earned $150,000 a year as a Vicinity Centres business analyst, was nabbed after an investigation into an alleged drug syndicate.
The unemployed mum and her then “on again, off again” boyfriend Shaheen Waheed were arrested at a St Kilda East apartment early on July 29, 2022.
Investigators allegedly seized drugs, cash and weapons from the Orrong Rd address.
Domajnko, who was found not guilty of proceeds of crime charges linked to the Orrong Rd apartment, was remanded in custody while police raided her Box Hill home on August 4.
Specialist police searched the Young St apartment and seized meth, 1,4 butanediol, more than $8000 cash and designer handbags worth a combined $30,000.
The court heard about $7500 was found inside a “concealed book” while the designer handbags – which included labels such as Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Hermes Birkin and Burberry – were found stacked in a bedroom.
An informant told the court police believed the handbags were the “proceeds of crime” as Domajnko was unemployed at the time of her arrest.
Police also believed Domajnko was “living off” Mr Waheed who investigators alleged had been “operating a syndicate trafficking drugs”.
Domajnko, while giving evidence to the court, threw up multiple reasons for where the crime proceeds cash came from.
Domajnko claimed Mr Waheed gave her cash for groceries which he got from his mum.
Domajnko also claimed the $7500 found in the secret book was her six-year-old daughter’s “savings” which had she been “saving for years”.
“I would put the money in the book and say (to my daughter) ‘look how much money you’ve got’,” Domajnko said.
“I’ve been saving that for a long time.’
Magistrate Brett Sonnet asked Domajnko why she didn’t put her daughter’s pocket money into the bank.
“I should have,” Domajnko said.
Domajnko also claimed her designer handbag collection was an “investment” and a “really good way to diversify”.
“And I really like handbags,” she said.
Domajnko claimed she paid $30,000 to another person for the handbags but he died before providing tax invoices.
“I don’t expect (the deceased man) to provide a 100 percent accurate document …,” Domajnko said.
“It’s hard to accept that piece of evidence is it not …,” Magistrate Sonnet said.
“You’re an accountant, handing over $30,000 and in return what do you have … you handed over $30,000 what did you receive in return …
“He handed over the handbags, didn’t he give you a receipt.”
Domajnko, who claimed she was not using illicit drugs, told the court she met Mr Waheed at a rehab clinic shortly after her divorce.
“I cooked dinner for him … I would help him just by getting his groceries, it was on again, off again for three years,” Domajnko said.
Domajnko also told the court she didn’t know if Mr Waheed was a drug user.
Magistrate Sonnet queried this claim due to Domajnko’s relationship with Mr Waheed.
“There is no doubt that Mr Waheed is an undesirable character for sure …,” Magistrate Sonnet said.
Domajnko was handed a 12-month adjourned undertaking without conviction.
Magistrate Sonnet ordered the drugs, cash and $30,000 designer handbag collection be forfeited.
Mr Waheed will front the County Court on drug trafficking charges at a later date.
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