Michael Chen: Gold Coast property tycoon busted drink driving after bingle, roadside puke

A Gold Coast property investor who co-owns a boutique hotel in Brisbane and apartment developments at Varsity Lakes has admitted to driving nearly three times the legal limit.

The Royal Albert hotel on the corner of Albert and Elizabeth street in Brisbane, one of several properties owned by companies connected to Michael Chen. Picture: Tertius Pickard

The Gold Coast owner of a string of accommodation businesses, including a boutique Brisbane hotel within a heritage-listed building and an apartment development at Varsity Lakes, has admitted to drink driving after crashing his car and puking on the roadway.

Clear Island Waters businessman Michael Chen, 59, appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of mid-range drink driving.

The court heard the offence occurred late on September 26 last year at Ross St, Benowa.

At about 11.50pm, police discovered Chen’s vehicle stationary on the side of the road, bearing crash damage to both the front and rear of the vehicle.

Clear Island Waters man Michael Chen, 59. Picture: Alex Treacy

Chen was seated in the driver’s seat, door open, vomiting onto the roadway, and subsequently he returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.142 per cent – almost three times the legal limit.

It was his first drink driving offence, the court was told.

Chen made, and was granted, an application for a restricted work licence.

Defence lawyer Kira Wu told the court it was “essential” her client be able to travel in his capacity as managing director of the MC Group.

Corporate records show Chen is the co-director of at least two companies, MC Royal Property Investments Pty Ltd, and MC Property Investments QLD Pty Ltd, that between them own Brisbane’s Royal Albert Hotel, and Varsity Lakes’ Chancellor Executive Apartments and Chancellor Lakeside.

Chancellor Executive Apartments at Varsity Lakes. Picture: File

The companies are owned conjointly with fellow director Weifeng Jin, 60, of Surfers Paradise.

The court accepted that a restricted work licence was warranted to prevent “extreme hardship by depriving [the defendant of] the means of his livelihood”.

Chen was fined $750 and disqualified from driving outside the hours allowed under the conditions of his restricted work licence for four months. A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Michael Chen: Gold Coast property tycoon busted drink driving after bingle, roadside puke