Berrigan farm worker faces deportation after robbery appeal dismissal

Stratus Desacada, a Filipino citizen and former contractor for Mowbray Farm in Berrigan, faces likely deportation following the dismissal of an appeal against his criminal sentence.

The case stems from an attempted armed robbery in October 2021. Desacada approached a vehicle near Shepparton, using a diamond tester in a black case to impersonate a handgun, and demanded $20,000 in cash. While he also possessed a kitchen knife, he did not use it during the encounter. The victim eventually sought help at a Toyota dealership on the Goulburn Valley Highway.

Desacada was previously sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by an 18-month corrections order. Because a jail term of one year or more triggers mandatory visa cancellation, his appeal was heard in the Supreme Court. The judges dismissed the appeal, making his deportation probable.