Block billionaire Adrian Portelli has led a court hearing in which he denies allegations he went after Melbourne’s northwest.
Portelli, 35, yawned as allegations that he carelessly drove his gray Mercedes Benz c63 coupe around a roundabout at Digger’s Rest were aired in court.
Portelli is accused of harassment just before Christmas 2020, and police charged him with careless driving, failure to have proper control of a vehicle and driving in a manner that caused the vehicle to lose traction.
The court heard Portelli was stopped near the intersection of Silk Drive and Diggers Rest-Coimadai Rd and his Merc was impounded on the spot.
Portelli was charged on January 30, 2021, more than a month after the alleged hoon crime.
A Victoria Police Highway Patrol officer told the court he said “bloody swear” when his partner asked him if he thought they had witnessed Portelli’s luxury car losing traction.
Portelli’s lawyers claimed there was “no way” police could make that claim from a distance of 255 metres.
Adrian Portelli in Sydney last week
Portelli appeared unfazed at his court hearing on criminal charges
Experienced criminal lawyer Penny Marcou, of Portelli, attempted to discredit the police witness’ evidence.
Marcou suggested the police officer “created a memory” because Portelli was “well known in the community.”
He asked how the police officer could remember the incident after four years and “several hundred police interceptions later.”
“It was a pretty distinctive incident,” he said.
“I didn’t know who he (Portelli) was.”
“But you did it in January 2021, right?” Ms. Marcou responded.
‘Your memory was set aside and you created a memory because Mr. Portelli was someone known in the community…’
Portelli lives a luxurious lifestyle
Marcou also highlighted an expert report that concluded it was unlikely police could see Portelli’s wheels turning from their vantage point.
He also claimed there was “no way” police could detect Portelli’s wheels losing traction from 255 meters away.
“I suggest you make this up as you go, Senior,” Ms. Marcou said.
‘I’m telling you, it was a horrible rainy day… you have the windshield wipers on and it’s pouring rain.
Marcou also claimed that the police officer’s claim that it was not raining much was “misleading” because there was “flooding on the other side of the road.”
The officer, who has 11 years of experience in the Highway Patrol, disagreed with Ms. Name’s statements.
The police chief said Portelli’s action at the roundabout was a “driver-controlled slide.”
Marcou also highlighted that there was no recorded footage of the alleged incident and that police had noted that Portelli’s Mercedes was a sedan, not a coupe.
Portelli is a fan of luxury vehicles
Portelli, a flamboyant billionaire playboy known for his scandalous publicity stunts, had previously attempted to keep his court case under wraps before Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed his shocking hoon charges in May last year.
Portelli’s former lawyer, Angelika Yianoulatos, attempted to hide the details of his alleged crime from public scrutiny.
“Before I begin to make any presentation, I will ask Your Honor to close this court by virtue of the fact that Mr. Portelli is a public figure and I can see that there are some journalists in the (video) link,” he said during a conference. prior court hearing.
“My opinion is that any publication of these matters may harm Mr. Portelli and the proper administration of justice.”
While the court was closed to allow Portelli’s lawyer to argue his case, a magistrate dismissed any thoughts of issuing a suppression order, opening the court and providing Portelli’s charge sheets to Daily Mail Australia.
Portelli is facing a legal war on a second front after the South Australian Consumer and Business Service launched an investigation into the operations of the Melbourne businessman’s lottery business in September last year.
Hundreds of people queue for the chance to get some of Portelli’s $150,000 Coles gifts
South Africa’s government department confirmed it was prosecuting Portelli and Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, trading as LMCT+ just a day after Portelli handed out $150,000 worth of Coles vouchers to western Sydney residents struggling to buy groceries.
Portelli faces nine counts of conducting/aiding to conduct an illegal lottery, and the company faces ten counts of the same charge, the courts confirmed.
If convicted on all charges, Portelli could face a maximum penalty of $190,000. The case is scheduled for its first mention on January 15 in the South Australian Magistrates Court.
Portelli has an estimated net worth of over $1 billion and made much of his fortune through LMCT+, a subscription-based lottery.
Portelli spent big money throwing a lavish party at his multi-million dollar penthouse in Melbourne’s financial district on Thursday night, just hours after facing charges.
The hearing on driving charges continues before Magistrate Michael McNamara at Sunshine Court.