Sly: How a Frankston cop brought down a former Mr Universe

A Frankston police officer has taken down a former Mr Universe after a dogged pursuit lasting almost a decade.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Paul Roberts from Frankston is Sly’s first nomination for the 2022 Police Officer of the Year.

In 2013, a large amount of a hazardous chemical was found in a Frankston rental property. The chemical turned out to be a precursor to ice — and the haul was the world’s largest seizure of such a chemical.

Former Mr Universe Gary Lewer was charged over the importation of the chemical from China.

The charges were dropped after the Chinese government withdrew permission for two nationals to give evidence in Australia, but Detective Roberts wasn’t about to let Lewer go.

He looked into the former Mr Universe’s background and found a litany of cases against him where witnesses wouldn’t give evidence.

He wrote an intelligence dossier on Lewer and sent it to Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

It turned out Lewer, who came to Australia from the UK as a young child, had never taken out Australian citizenship.

Mr Dutton ordered his deportation on the grounds of bad character.

Lewer appealed, and on Thursday a Federal Court judge ruled the deportation order stands.

Press PLAY below to hear Sly sharing how Frankston cop Paul Roberts brought down 

Image (inset): Facebook