Millionaires’ Row stoush leads to police investigation of alleged assault
Police are investigating after high-profile Gold Coast businessman Jack Ray was allegedly punched in the groin and threatened during a heated cafe clash with another Glitter Strip identity.
Crime & Justice
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POLICE are investigating after high-profile Gold Coast businessman Jack Ray was allegedly punched in the groin and threatened during a heated cafe clash with another Glitter Strip identity.
Mr Ray, husband of TV personality Natalie Gruzlewski, is spearheading a residents’ revolt against a controversial development planned for ‘Millionaires Row’ at Mermaid Beach.
He was allegedly involved in a physical confrontation during a meeting with the project’s proponent Riaz Rezvani - son-in-law of prominent Gold Coast developer Soheil Abedian.
Witnesses, including millionaire Gold Coast businessman Terry Jackman were in the Le Gourmand cafe at Mermaid Beach when the incident occurred last month and are understood to be providing statements to police.
Mr Ray has been a vocal critic of the five-storey duplex development planned for a three-storey site at the corner of Hedges Ave and Ventura Rd, by Mr Rezvani’s Alpha Beta Holdings.
The block neighbours the Hedges Ave home Mr Ray shares with wife Gruzlewski and their daughter.
The Sunday Mail understands Mr Ray and Mr Jackman were meeting with Mr Rezvani and his business partner at the cafe.
Mr Ray was allegedly punched in the groin by Mr Rezvani and received medical treatment before filing a formal police complaint.
Mr Jackman, a former chairman of Mr Abedian’s listed development company Sunland, where Mr Rezani also works, told the Sunday Mail he stepped in.
“I was absolutely amazed and thought it was an extraordinary thing to happen … disgraceful,” he said.
Police confirmed they were investigating an assault complaint at a Mermaid Beach cafe on December 12 between a 34-year-old man and a 56-year-old male.
Mr Ray would not comment. Contacted by the Sunday Mail, Mr Rezvani said: “What incident? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Told the alleged details and that police were investigating, Mr Rezvani chuckled and said: “There was no incident. I don’t know what he’s (Ray) talking about. Nothing happened, there were witnesses there (at the cafe).”
Last month, Mr Rezvani defended plans for the Mermaid development.
“There’s a precedent in the area … if you look at the environment, there’s quite a few [homes and buildings] which go a lot higher than what we’re proposing.,” he said.
Mr Ray said the proposal had angered locals.
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