Sturt Plateau Nicolas Kostowski faces Katherine Court for alleged $1.47m cattle theft

A Territory grazier has locked horns with the law over an alleged $1.47 million cattle theft.

A TERRITORY grazier has locked horns with the law over an alleged $1.47 million cattle theft.

Nicolas John Kostowski, 71, was wrangled into Katherine Local Court on Monday over allegations he kept stolen cattle and their offspring on a Sturt Plateau station.

Police allege Kostowski was taken down in April 2022, following a ten month investigation, in which 1200 cattle were DNA tested.

Police said in June 2021 a neighbouring station conducted a consensual muster of Kostowski’s station to recover 435 head of allegedly stolen cattle.

Police returned to the property a week later with a search warrant to DNA test his herd.

NT Police Taskforce Starlight detectives DNA tested 1200 head of cattle at a Sturt Plateau station believed to be a stolen herd and their offspring.

Taskforce Starlight detectives alleged 658 of the cattle had direct parental links to the stolen cattle, while a number of weaners are suspected to be the third generation offspring from the stolen herd.

Police estimate the value of the herd, plus those sold at auction, to be $1.47m.

Following a 10-month investigation, police arrested Kostowski and charged him with stealing and obtaining benefit by deception.

Kostowski appeared before Judge Stephen Geary on Monday. He has not yet entered a plea, and his bail was continued.

Kostowski will return to Katherine Local Court on July 25 for a preliminary examination mention.