Outer Harbor shipping container fall victim Troy Kellett owned business set up by man whose clients included Tony Mokbel and Mick Gatto

A man who fell to his death from a shipping container at Outer Harbor owned a major trucking company that was set up by a businessman with links to notorious criminals.

A man who fell to his death from a shipping container at Outer Harbor owned a major trucking company that was initially set up by a businessman whose clients have included Tony Mokbel and Mick Gatto.

Melbourne man Troy Kellett, 43, died after falling several metres from a shipping container at Outer Harbor in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A friend of Mr Kellett’s has implored police to thoroughly investigate his death, saying the circumstances surrounding it are bizarre and out of character.

The friend has told The Advertiser that Mr Kellett had recently sold his transport business, Kellett Australia, for more than $10m and that it was unusual for him to have been in Adelaide.

The Advertiser can reveal that company records show Mr Kellett’s business was first established by a businessman whose clients included notorious drug kingpin Tony Mokbel.

The company was set up in January 1999 by Melbourne businessman Tom Kotsimbos, through his company Abotts Incorporation Services.

Mr Kotsimbos has reportedly established shelf companies for clients including notorious drug kingpin Tony Mokbel and underworld figure Mick Gatto. There’s no suggestion of illegality by Mr Kotsimbos.

Shelf companies are often established by a third party, allowing a business person to purchase them and quickly establish a company or business of their own.

Mr Kotsimbos was the director of Kellett Australia for one day before Mr Kellett’s brother, Corey Scott Kellett, took over. Company records show Troy Kellett took over in 2003. There’s no suggestion Corey Kellett had any involvement with Mr Kotsimbos’s former clients.

Police were quick to rule Mr Kellett’s death as not suspicious.

Troy Kellett died after falling several metres from a shipping container at Outer Harbor on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

Troy Kellett owned a major trucking company that was initially set up by a businessman, whose clients included Tony Mokbel.

However, his long-time friend believes Mr Kellett’s death should be thoroughly investigated.

“The thing that gets me is that Troy wouldn’t be on top of a container for no reason,” the friend, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Advertiser.

“There’s no need to be on top of a container so that got me interested straight away.

“Why was he on top of a container? And why was he up on top of a container at 12.30 at night?

“The only conclusion I can come up with … is that he was hiding.

“Something happened and he was hiding.”

The friend said Mr Kellett had recently sold Kellett Australia to an Adelaide-based company for more than $10m.

“On Friday, just passed, a substantial sum, in the millions, was put into his account,” Mr Kellett’s friend said.

“(Then) he’s found dead in Adelaide. I just don’t get it. I really don’t.”

There is no official record of the company sale as yet. Company records show there was a share sale in April last year but it does not reveal who to. Troy Kellett is still listed as the company’s sole director.

Police responded to reports Mr Kellett had fallen several metres from the container about 12.30am Sunday.

They provided first aid before Mr Kellett was pronounced dead.

In a statement on Sunday, police said two men who Mr Kellett was with had been arrested at the location and charged with firearms offences “unrelated” to his death.

They were charged with possessing an unregistered firearm and possessing a firearm without a license and refused police bail to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The friend said Mr Kellett had received an urgent call on Saturday for a shipping container to be taken to Adelaide.

“Troy wouldn’t drive for no reason,” he said.

“Troy doesn’t drive, he hasn’t driven for years … he’s got in the teens of drivers there that could do the run. I don’t see why he’d be there.

“It’s not Troy to drive, it’s not Troy to take off on Saturday when he’s got his kids.”

Mr Kellett’s friend said he wanted police to seriously investigate the circumstances around his mate’s death.

“He’d give you the last $10 in his pocket to help you,” he said.

“He was a great person.”

Originally published as Outer Harbor shipping container fall victim Troy Kellett owned business set up by man whose clients included Tony Mokbel and Mick Gatto