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Kovco Widow denies $700,000 payout report |
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Sunday, 14 May 2006 |
 The widow of Private Jake Kovco, Shelly Kovco, denies media reports she
has been offered a $700,000 lump sum payment to compensate her for his
death.
Private Kovco died in Baghdad last month after suffering a shot to the head fired by his own pistol.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, a mix-up with the
body in Kuwait and a delay in its return to Australia embarrassed the
government who further complicated matters by releasing inaccurate and
ill-considered media statements.
The Sunday Herald Sun today reported that government sources have
calculated Ms Kovco's entitlement to be within the $650,000-$700,000
range, although a war widow's pension is believed to be a more generous
offer.
The newspaper said sources close to the family said Ms Kovco was
considering the offer, which would help secure the future of her
children, Tyrie, 3, and Alana, 9 months.
But an angry Shelley Kovco this morning said the figure quoted was "way out" and far more than she had been offered.
"The story has been made up, unfortunately," Ms Kovco said.
"The amount that has been printed is way out. It has been made up."
The reported compensation figure would have been in contrast with that
given to another war widow, Kylie Russell, whose husband, SAS Sergeant
Andrew Russell, was killed in Afghanistan in 2002.
Ms Russell received a one-off payment of $37,000 and a $13,624-a-year
pension, while her then three-month-old daughter Leisa was given
$55,000 towards her education.
"The compensation that I received on my husband's death was nothing
like adequate," said Ms Russell, who campaigned to reform the military
compensation system and won.
When asked whether the compensation figure she had been offered had
been adequate, Ms Kovco said "that is another story for another day".
An Australian Defence Force spokeswoman said the figure offered was "private" and would not be released publicly.
Private Kovco's death is being investigated by the Defence Department and is due to report the findings within 6 months.
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