Police anticipate laying charges against the developer of the $23.5 million ‘Bangalow food precinct’ following an incident involving his wife.
Bartholomew James Elias appeared in Ballina Local court on Thursday for the first mention of an Apprehended Personal Violence Order APVO, taken out by police, on behalf of his wife Anna Karina Elias.
The court heard a provisional APVO was put in place following the incident, that occurred on an unspecified date, to protect Mrs Elias and another person (believed to be the couple’s child) who was not named.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Alison Kennedy told the court officers were pursuing the matter.
‘There are likely to be charges laid so I am seeking an adjournment until April 20,’ Sgt Kennedy said.
‘How about April 27,’ Magistrate R Denes asked.
Sgt Kennedy then applied to the vary the provisional order preventing Mr Elias from attending the residence where his wife is living.
‘On an interim basis I am seeking orders one, six and eight,’ she said.
The court heard the original provisional conditions were orders one, six and nine, which didn’t require Mr Elias to surrender any firearms, but prevented him from attending the school where Mrs Elias or the other protected person attended.
Ms Denes amended the provisional Aprehended Personal Violence Order to cover orders one, six and eight, and adjourned proceedings until April 27.
This means if Mr Elias breaches any of the following orders it his a criminal offence and he can be charged;
Order 1). Assault, molest, harass, threaten or othewrise interfere with Mrs Elias or a person with whom she has a domestic relationship with.
Order 6). Mr Elias must not approach or contact Mrs Elias by any means whatsoever, except through his legal representative, or as authorised by a parenting order under the Family Law Act.
Order 8). Mr Elias must surrender all firearms and related licences to police.
As the proposed Lismore Road location of the ‘Bangalow Food Precinct’ is valued at more than $20 million, development approval rests with the Joint regional Planning Panel JRRP, not Byron Shire Council.
The JRRP is yet to decide on development consent for the 26.6 hectare site, set to be the new home for Brookfarm and Salumi.
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