A bitter inheritance battle within one of South Australia’s wealthiest families has reached the state’s highest court, with claims a “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” was sought through inheritance laws.
Property tycoon George Constantine Polites, 71, of Glenelg North, is appealing a Supreme Court ruling that appointed independent administrator Sarah Hooper to investigate his handling of his late mother Florence Gemenis Polites’ multimillion-dollar estate.
Mrs Polites, the widow of property magnate Con Polites, died in March 2024 aged 102. While documents showed her estate had a $27 million stake in the family empire, Mr Polites claims debts exceeded $4.4 million, leaving “no value left”. He insists he acted properly as executor.
His nephew, Markas “Mark” Salkanovic, 55, successfully pushed for the administrator’s appointment, arguing he had been “kept largely in the dark” despite being a will beneficiary.
Counsel for Mr Polites countered that the appointment was “misconceived” and rushed before inheritance law reforms took effect, usurping the executor.
Salkanovic, who has a past drug conviction, denies threatening relatives. He claims the administrator’s role was necessary both to protect assets and to investigate alleged “abuse of process”.
The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Sam Doyle, Chris Bleby and Sophie David, has reserved its decision to a later date.
Source: The Advertiser.
