Ex-boxing champ detained over 'error' in drug sentence

Michael Katsidis can be released on a suspended sentence after a judge accepted a previous error. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

A former world champion boxer has been resentenced for drug trafficking after he was prevented from leaving custody over an error in calculating his jail term. 

Michael Alan Katsidis, 43, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday to one count of drug trafficking over three-and-a-half months starting in December 2021.

Katsidis won the title of world interim lightweight champion in 2007 and competed for Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

He was due to be released from custody on Thursday after being sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment to be suspended immediately due to time previously served.

Two of Katsidis's supporters waited outside Brisbane Supreme Court for about four hours before being told by Corrective Services that he would instead have to serve another 117 days.

Defence barrister Wayne Tolton brought the case back to the Supreme Court on Friday for a review on the basis that the sentence intended for an immediate release.

Katsidis attended court via videolink while wearing a green detainee uniform.

Katsidis was on parole when police identified him via phone intercepts in 2021 as residing at a crime syndicate's safe house to monitor cash and drug levels.

Police raided the safe house in March 2022 and found 8.13 grams of cocaine inside a safe along with $42,850 in cash.

Katsidis was arrested later that month and returned to custody, where he has spent the past 22 months.

A principal legal officer for Corrective Services told the court on Friday that the wording of the sentence on Thursday resulted in Katsidis's parole being retroactively cancelled from the first day of his offending.

The officer said this added 117 days to Katsidis's sentence due to the gap between his first day trafficking drugs in early December 2021 to his return to custody in late March 2022, under section 209 of the Corrective Services Act.

Corrective Services had previously warned the court of this possibility via a note on its certification that Katsidis had previously served 668 days in custody.

Justice Catherine Muir said she would re-open the sentence she had imposed on Katsidis as there had been a "factual error".

"I reached the conclusion that a sentence that was just was one that saw you released ... that did not transpire as I overlooked section 209," Justice Muir said.

She reduced the sentence to two years and eight months' imprisonment to avoid Katsidis being exposed to the possibility of serving too much time in prison if he reoffended.

Justice Muir said she would keep the suspension operational for a period of five years as Katsidis was getting the benefit of a shorter sentence.

Mr Tolton said he "couldn't reasonably quibble" with Justice Muir's proposal, which would have Katsidis released on Friday.

Justice Muir told Katsidis that if he committed an offence punishable by imprisonment within the next five years he would be sent back to custody to serve part or all of his sentence.

"That will be hanging over your head," the judge said.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store