Amalia Freeman, the wife of fugitive Dezi Freeman, has broken her silence and urged her husband to surrender to the police. The plea comes as the extensive police manhunt in Porepunkah, Victoria, continues for the man accused of fatally shooting two police officers.
In a statement released via her lawyer, Amalia Freeman expressed her “deep sorrow for the loss of the lives of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart” and said, “My children and I grieve for the loss of your loved ones.” The statement was provided to the ABC and other media outlets.
Amalia Freeman also stressed that she and her children do not hold the same anti-authority views as her husband. “My children and I respect the important work of Victoria Police and do not hold anti-authority views,” she said, as reported by ABC News.
Victoria Police Superintendent Brett Kahan noted that while some individuals have been speaking with police, this is not the same as full cooperation.
“It’s two different things to be speaking with police and co-operating with police.”
He added that authorities would encourage those not providing full cooperation – including Freeman’s wife – to do so.
Amalia Freeman is of Filipino descent. According to 7NEWS, a relative alleged that “none of the kids have birth certificates” and that Dezi Freeman had taken Mali’s passport, preventing her from returning to the Philippines.
A fuller picture of Mali has also emerged. In reporting by The Australian, she is known locally not only as the estranged wife of Australia’s most wanted man but also as a mother of three and a musician. Photos shared with media show her cradling her youngest child on Mother’s Day while her two older sons leaned in close.
Mali and her teenage son were arrested during a dramatic police raid last week and later released without charge. Her best friend, Ellissa Pernu, was also detained briefly that night.
Mali and Ellissa have performed together in small Alpine region venues, from local cafés and pubs to weekend markets and regional music festivals. They describe their music as a mix of country and folk, with “sweet harmonies” strengthening each other’s work. In 2020, they wrote that the COVID-19 pandemic had tested their “patience and resilience,” thanking supporters for giving them opportunities to perform. (The Australian, August 31, 2025)
Dezi Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, is described as a “sovereign citizen,” an individual who adheres to a pseudo-legal ideology that rejects government authority. He has a history of confrontation with law enforcement and has previously referred to police as “terrorist thugs” in court documents.
The manhunt for the 56-year-old remains ongoing, with police believing he may be receiving assistance from members of the local community.
Watch the following video courtesy of ABC News on YouTube with a statement provided by Amalia a.k.a. Mali through her lawyers:
In 2018, Dezi Freeman appeared on A Current Affair with his wife, Mali and their two young sons, claiming they were being harassed by neighbours at their Porepunkah home, which Mali described as their ‘perfect paradise’. Watch the following video courtesy of A Current Affair/Channel 9 via YouTube.
On day 7 of the manhunt, police believe that Dezi is getting help from someone as reported on Channel 7 in the following video
The Freeman case has attracted national attention due to the scale of the police operation and the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of two officers. Authorities say the manhunt will continue until Freeman is located.
Police have again appealed to the public for information. Anyone with knowledge of Freeman’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
