Reserve Hotels: Dimitri Kentrotis fled police drug test due to tsunami PTSD
The captivating case of a family schism which has torn apart the $100 million Reserve Hotels board just got weirder. Ousted son-in-law Dimitri Kentrotis has also been charged with fleeing a drug test and his lawyer says it’s because he has PTSD from a tsunami.
Wentworth Courier
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A man who drove away from police after they tried to drug test him was reacting to the PTSD he suffers due to his near death experience with a tsunami, a court has heard.
Dimitri Kentrotis, 41, had his case mentioned before Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.
Mr Kentrotis of Bondi Junction is also facing charges of using a gun to threaten employees from his $100 million family pub empire Reserve Hotels for which he last appeared in Waverley Court on Tuesday.
When Mr Kentrotis first appeared in Waverley Local Court in July to apply for bail for his weapon possession and intimidation charges, his then barrister Eric Oates mentioned the traffic charges, explaining his “flight” reaction was characteristic of his PTSD.
Mr Oates told the court about Mr Kentrotis’ harrowing experience with the tsunami 15 years ago which he only survived by sheltering in an “air bubble near the ceiling”.
Mt Kentrotis is charged with one count each of driving recklessly in a manner which is dangerous, refusing to provide an oral fluid sample, escaping lawful custody, speeding at more than 30km/h, resisting or hindering police, running a red light and not using his indicator.
Mr Kentrotis was not present in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday where he was represented by his new solicitor.
His lawyer told the court they had only recently taken over the case and received the file from Mr Oates on August 30.
He asked that the traffic charges by adjourned to September 15 – the same date the intimidation charges are due to come up in Downing Centre court.
“We seek leave to marry them up,” the lawyer said.
Deputy Registrar Nicole Hoffman agreed.
“Adjourned until September 15th. There will be no further adjournments for that purpose,” Registrar Hoffman said.
The court has previously heard incredible details of the family feud which caused hotel baron Nick Balagiannis to oust not only Mr Kentrotis but his own wife and daughters from the Reserve Hotels board.
Reserve Hotels owns a number of pubs in the Sydney CBD including the Albion Place Hotel, Mr B’s and Chamberlain Hotel.