Michael Bosscher’s restaurant, cafe empire exposed as tax debt liquidation launched

The unexpected hospitality empire of an embattled former Brisbane lawyer can be revealed.

Bosscher liqudionat art work new

An embattled high-profile lawyer has been revealed as the former owner of a slew of liquidated hospitality businesses, as proceedings into a new court ordered liquidation launched by the ATO have begun.

A company owned by ex-lawyer Michael Bosscher, who is currently on bail awaiting trial for unrelated charges, that previously operated Sonny’s Cafe in Murrarie, is in the process of liquidation.

Hvitserk Pty Ltd, which operated as Sonny’s Cafe until it was sold for assets to new owners in late 2023, had an application for winding up lodged by the Deputy Commission of Taxation on May 6.

Michael Bosscher leaves the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Picture: Glenn Campbell/NCANewsWire

It is understood that the company has a significant sum owing to the ATO.

While the cafe has not been operated by Bosscher for the last two and a half years, the notice of liquidation uncovered a number of other hospitality businesses that had also been operated by Bosscher under different company names.

According to documents acquired by the Courier Mail, Bosscher was listed as the previous director and shareholder of companies operating at least ten hospitality businesses for periods prior to his jailing in November 2023.

At that time, Bosscher was found guilty by a jury of aggravated fraud in excess of $30,000 and eight counts of falsifying documents, and was sentenced to 10 years jail in the following May.

Bosscher launched an appeal in October 2024 and in December, those convictions were overturned, and a new trial ordered for a date not yet set.

The appeal judge Justice Boddice declined to hear a bail application on that occasion, however Bosscher was granted bail for unrelated charges the following week, putting up a $250k surety and agreeing to strict conditions.

The businesses uncovered by the Courier Mail include the wildly popular Farine’s Artisan Bakery in Red Hill, West End, Spring Hill, which suddenly closed in November 2023, as well as several previous Farine locations in Calamvale, Ferny Grove and Boggo Rd.

Other known businesses included Two Lad’s Pizzeria in Bardon (LAGLAG Pty Ltd), George Street cafe Frankie and George (UBBA Pty Ltd) and nearby eatery Courtside (WHMB Pty Ltd), as well as a wholesale bakery operation French Tarts (JPBD Pty Ltd).

It is understood that most of these businesses were closed and liquidated or sold in late 2023 and that Bosscher is not in any way associated with the two still operating, Sonny’s and Frankie and George.

Bosscher filed for bankruptcy mid-2024 and as such, is no longer the operator of any company.

He is listed as a current shareholder of several companies, despite them having been liquidated.

The application for liquidation is set to be heard by the Federal Court on Friday.

Originally published as Michael Bosscher’s restaurant, cafe empire exposed as tax debt liquidation launched