Melbourne Magistrates’ Court: Former Metro Trains manager Peter Bollas has matter moved to closed court after co-accused attend

A former Metro Trains manager sacked after an IBAC inquiry feared for his safety after men also accused of corruption showed up at his court case.

A sacked transport executive feared for his safety when his co-accused in an alleged corruption matter attended court, prompting action by the Magistrate.

Former Metro Trains manager Peter Bollas appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning, but unexpectedly, so did two of his co-accused and their lawyers before prosecution requested intervention.

The 49-year-old faced a single charge of corruptly receiving secret commissions in way of cash payments from senior figures of Transclean Facilities, a cleaning services contractor.

A second charge was withdrawn at a previous mention and Mr Bollas’ counsel indicated he would plead guilty to the remaining charge subject to amended details within the charge.

In open court, a police prosecutor submitted there was a substantial risk of prejudice and the proper administration of justice and the accused had a real fear for his safety owing to the presence of the co-accused.

The prosecutor was alerted to the presence of the two co-accused during the application and said that Mr Bollas was at risk of fear.

The matter was listed as an application for summary jurisdiction, which will now proceed in closed court, after Magistrate Stephen Ballek accepted the prosecution’s application, supported by defence.

A defence lawyer acting for Mr Bollas told Magistrate Ballek the situation was “most unusual” given the circumstances.

He said the presence of lawyers was one thing but the presence of the actual co-accused was another.

Court documents allege between May and July of 2020, Mr Bollas corruptly accepted cash payments of at least $10,000.

Mr Bollas appeared in court in a blue suit with a long beard and long tied-back hair, supported by his wife.