Dimitri Kentrotis charged over Balagiannis family Reserve Hotel feud
It all started when the family patriarch threw his family off the board following a dispute over investing $60m into a new hotel. It has ended with his son-in-law in court on allegations he threatened those loyal to the company boss with a loaded gun.
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An explosive feud which has torn apart the family behind a $100 million hotel empire played out in court as the son-in-law faced charges of threatening employees loyal to the patriarch with a gun.
Waverley Local Court heard Reserve Hotels boss Nick Balagiannis ousted his own wife Sue, daughters Mary and Angelique and son-in-law Dimitri Kentrotis off the company board on June 26 after a blow out over whether to invest in a new $60 million property turned toxic.
The court heard after his family members voted against him four to one he exercised his power as the only company shareholder to oust them from the board.
Earlier this month, sisters Mary and Angelique, called in a $21 million debt owed to them by the company.
Magistrate Ross Hudson recapped the family feud.
“In summary there’s bad blood, a $21 million debt and a $60 million sale of property they didn’t agree on,” he said.
“He (Nick Balagiannis) said the board is dissolved – I’ll make decisions how I make them.”
The court heard two company employees, David Highet and Weng Cheong (Jimmy) Wong, then accused Mr Kentrotis, 41, of Bondi Junction of brandishing a gun and sending them death threats via the app Wikr which erases messages as soon as they are read.
Mr Kentrotis, who was supported in court by his wife Mary, was arrested and charged on Monday with one count of attempt to stalk, intimidate and intend fear of harm and two counts each of using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend and possessing unauthorised firearms.
He was released on bail today.
The Reserve Hotels stable includes sites in the Sydney CBD such as Mr B’s, Albion Place Hotel and Chamberlain Hotel and many others across Australia.
The prosecution told Magistrate Hudson they would be alleging on one occasion Mr Kentrotis was showing off the pistol when he pointed it at one of the employees and said “in an unsettling manner, “Say hello to my little friend.”
When the employee protested as the gun was loaded he was allegedly told, “Don’t worry man the safety is on”.
Mr Kentrotis’ barrister Eric Oates said police had searched both Mr Kentrotis’ Bondi Junction home and his BMW X5 and Mr Balagiannis had himself gutted the old Reserve Hotels office on Castlereagh St during a recent office relocation and no sign of any weapons had been found.
He said the existence of firearms was a “fabrication” and any “death threat” was not legitimate and related to another matter on which Mr Kentrotis is due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court.
Mr Kentrotis allegedly tested positive for cocaine while driving a company car and then rolled up the window and drove away from police.
Mr Oates alleges Mr Kentrotis was merely frustrated the employee had failed to register the car which drew the attention of police.
“If it was said, it was not in a literal sense it was ‘you let me down here’,” Mr Oates said.
Mr Oates also questioned why if employees were first shown the guns in February and threats made in May why did they only just recently make a police report.
“We say the chronology is very illuminating,” Mr Oates said.
Mr Kentrotis will next appear before Waverley Court on September 1.
His bail conditions including reporting daily to Bondi Police Station, handing in his passport, a nightly 8pm to 6am curfew and no consumption of drugs or alcohol.