Peter John Wilhelm Drazic charged with ‘falsely representing to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman’

In unusual proceedings, a 43-year-old man has been charged for allegedly embellishing his military service, which came to light during a bail application for an unrelated charge. See what happened in court.

A 43-year-old man who told a Toowoomba court during a bail application that he suffered PTSD from his time in the military has been charged with one count of “falsely representing to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman”.

Peter John Wilhelm Drazic appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, January 26, after being arrested by police who had turned up at the Highfields house he occupied with a search warrant on January 19.

Police were held at bay for three hours while a man and a woman were holed up inside the home and when police eventually obtained access to the house officers allegedly found stolen property, dangerous drugs and drug utensils as well as ammunition, improvised explosive devices in the form of molotov cocktails, fireworks and a stun gun.

Duty solicitor Nathan Bouchier applied for bail on Drazic’s behalf on January 26, telling the court his client had co-operated with police and exited the house immediately when officers arrived.

Drazic was not required to enter pleas to the charges which include two counts of unlawfully possessing weapons, to counts of possessing explosives (ammunition and fireworks) as well as possessing dangerous drugs.

Police objected to bail on the grounds the 43-year-old was already on bail for drugs and weapons offences from alleged incidents dating to late 2022.

Magistrate Clare Kelly refused bail and remanded Drazic in custody.

However, he has since been charged with “falsely representing to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman” which was mentioned before the same court on Monday, January 30.

Magistrate Louise Shephard said on Monday she wanted to put on record that she had in the past granted bail to Drazic which was a “borderline” decision and that she had been swayed in part by the fact the court had been told Drazic had post traumatic stress disorder after completing two tours of service with the military.

Solicitor Ryan McCullough, of MacDonald Law, represented Drazic on Monday and said his client could remain in the watch house as he wasn’t required in court and no application for bail would be made.

Mr McCullough asked that Drazic’s matters be adjourned to February 15 when next his other charges were due for mention.

Ms Shephard remanded Drazic in custody and adjourned all of his matters to February 15.