Former Chapel St nightclub baron chased through courts for unpaid debts

A former Melbourne club baron, who has recently been swept up in an alleged global crime investigation, is now facing business strife after a liquidator was appointed to one of his companies.

A former Melbourne nightclub baron is being chased through Victoria’s courts over unpaid debts linked to failed timber businesses.

A former Melbourne nightclub baron is being chased through Victoria’s courts over unpaid debts linked to failed timber businesses.

Ex-boss of Chapel St hotspot Boutique, Samuel Prosser, 37, who was charged with conspiracy to import tobacco products earlier this year after he was swept up in an alleged global crime investigation, is also now facing business strife.

A court appointed a liquidator to Mr Prosser’s company, Xperience Edge, earlier this month after building supplier Accurate Construction Services launched legal action over an $80,000 debt.

Shipping company ZIM appeared as a supporting creditor to back the winding up application.

It’s believed the debt was related to timber products.

Winding up notices are usually issued by creditors of a company in order to enforce the payment of a debt.

If the debt is found legitimate and a company is unable to pay, the business is usually placed into liquidation by the court.

Mr Prosser’s lawyer Michael Anderson of Kingsford Lawyers sought an adjournment to allow for “ATO lodgements to take place” which were expected to “realise approximately $60,000”.

Mr Prosser was charged with conspiracy to import tobacco products earlier this year.

He said Mr Prosser would be able to borrow the remaining $20,000 from family and friends and argued that his arrest hindered his ability to pay off the debt.

“The arrest affected Mr Prosser’s ability to provide clear instructions since the last return date or take the substantive steps to discharge the debt,” he said.

Court documents show Mr Prosser was owed more than $700,000 from six containers of timber which were undelivered from a company in India, Jindal Wood Products.

“(Mr Prosser) has obtained a significant judgement against a third party company which it intends on executing in India,” Mr Anderson said.

“This process has commenced however is still in its infancy and the defendants director may be required to travel to India in order to execute documents and provide further instructions to his Indian solicitors.”

But Victoria’s Supreme Court ultimately placed the company into liquidation and appointed Jirsch Sutherland partner Malcolm Howell as liquidator.

A spokeswoman for Mr Howell said he is still “undertaking investigations to determine information about the company and its creditors”.

It’s believed the $80,000 debt was related to timber products.

Xperience Edge is owned by another company of Mr Prosser’s, Ziggy T, which is also in Victoria’s Supreme Court after H&G Constructions, which trades under the name Sidhu Family Homes, launched an application for a winding up order in July.

Police alleged in September Mr Prosser and his co-accused co-ordinated a plot to import 7,460,000 illegal cigarettes into Australia via India and Vietnam.

Authorities estimated a $10m tax loss was on the cards if the cigarettes had made it to the country and sold illegally at street level.

The criminal proceeding has been adjourned to April next year, according to court documents.

Mr Prosser, a known heavyweight in nightclub circles, used to run the iconic Chapel St nightclub Boutique which was renamed The Greville under his stewardship.

The famed Prahran nightclub which has hosted overseas stars such as Jason Derulo was shot up in 2016 under the ownership of the late Darren ‘Razzle’ Thornburgh.

He was also heavily involved with Toorak nightclub Trak.

Mr Prosser was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Former Chapel St nightclub baron chased through courts for unpaid debts