Makala Mifka: Shepparton drug dealing hoon sentenced after police chase

A Shepparton drug dealer and serial hoon who led cops on an “outrageous” high-speed pursuit has walked free. Here’s why.

Makala MIfka pleaded guilty to drug and driving charges.

A Shepparton drug dealer who sped through residential streets at 150km/h while high on meth has been released from prison.

Magistrate Lance Martin sentenced Malaka Mifka to 100 days behind bars, which she has already served in pre-sentence detention.

She has been freed on an 18-month community corrections order, which requires 150 hours of community service.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking and dangerous driving before the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court for offending beginning on July 27 9pm.

Police spotted her driving a car with different front and rear number plates down Orrvale Rd, Shepparton, travelling faster than 150km/h in a 60km/h area.

Police set up stop sticks at the Doyles Rd and Poplar Ave intersection, but Mifka attempted to swerve around officers, causing her car to hit a road sign and spin 180 degrees.

A witness in the back seat of the car was found in a distressed state while Mifka was handcuffed and arrested.

When searched, police found a small clear bottle of GHB as well as a small ziplock bag of meth hidden in her bra.

She later underwent an oral fluid test, which detected meth in her system.

She was bailed – but it did not stop her getting behind the wheel and driving dangerously again.

On August 14, she rented a Triton Ute from Budget Car Rentals.

In the early hours of August 16, police saw the car weave onto the wrong side of the road, driving 100km/h in a 60 zone.

It then pummelled through a red light at the Wyndham St and Wilmot Rd intersection.

Police tried to drive behind the car, but it was not possible due to how fast it was going.

The car continued at a fast speed through residential South Shepparton with headlights off, and despite police losing sight of the vehicle, they later spotted it parked at a house, with the accused and passenger running away.

Makala Mifka has been released from prison.

Police searched Mifka’s black handbag and found brown powder thought to be MDMA, a white tablet, number of empty ziplock bags, a large amount of “drug paraphernalia” and a “large amount” of liquid GHB.

They also found a bank card in someone else’s name, which was linked to a car theft in Bentleigh East about July 18 to 19.

Police also seized her phone, and analysis showed she had sent and received a number of messages discussing the purchase and selling of MDMA, GHB, and meth.

Police also discovered a folder on her phone called “scam”, with pictures of a large number of IDs and credit cards in various names.

Mifka’s lawyer said her client’s time in custody had gone “the majority of the way” in punishing her, and suggested rehab while living in the community would be suitable.

Mifka’s lawyer said her client had a difficult childhood growing up in Shepparton, and was later in a long-term relationship with an abusive partner.

Her lawyer said her drug use escalated when this relationship ended, which put her behind bars for 60 days.

She was temporarily clean from drugs, but the court heard Mifka spiralled again in mid-2020. While she was technically meant to be living with her mum, she lived a drug-fuelled lifestyle, sleeping at the homes of different associates and friends.

The court heard a doctor’s report showed Mifka had not received support for her PTSD, and used drugs as a coping mechanism.

Since being in prison, the court heard Mifka has done as many courses as possible, had worked in the laundry and in horticulture, and spoke to her family twice a week, who remained supportive of her.

Magistrate Lance Martin also condemned Mifka’s driving as “outrageous” and said it was “fortunate” it did not result in serious injury or death.

“You showed very little care and concern for other road users and innocent people who may have been in the vicinity,” he said.

While Mr Martin said drug dealing was “always serious”, he said her offending was “street level” trafficking and was not part of a larger organisation.

Mr Martin said the community corrections order would help her get drug and mental health rehabilitation, but said her success depended on whether she avoided the “wrong set of people”.

“That will take some strength – but that is at the very basis of your now rehabilitation back to a normal sort of life, one that doesn’t involve being involved in the criminal justice system,” he said.