Evara Homes director Viharn Arumughasamy refused bail over drugs charges
A Glen Waverley who is the director of a luxury home building company allegedly breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions to deal drugs has been refused bail — despite his wife offering up a significant amount as surety.
South East
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The Glen Waverley owner of a luxury home building company who allegedly breached coronavirus lockdown restrictions to deal drugs has been refused bail, despite his wife offering to pay $10,000 to get him out.
Viharn Arumughasamy applied for bail at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Monday, but was knocked back because he was considered an unacceptable risk to the public.
The father of two has been charged with several drug and traffic offences.
The court heard police intercepted Mr Arumughasamy driving on Ferntree Gully Rd in Notting Hill at 11pm on August 3, several hours after the 8pm Stage Four lockdown curfew.
Mr Arumughasamy, who owns and runs Evara Homes, allegedly gave police a fake name when stopped but investigations revealed Mr Arumughasamy was unlicensed.
Constable John Wallington told the court Mr Arumughasamy “appeared nervous, he was sweating despite it being a cold night”, prompting the officers to search the silver Mazda.
Drugs, including about 40g of methylamphetamine and almost 50 Valium tablets were allegedly found in the centre console, along with digital scales.
The court heard Mr Arumughasamy had denied the crystal-like substance was methylamphetamine instead claiming it was methylsulfonylmethane, a popular dietary supplement used to boost muscle recovery after intense exercise — but a presumptive test was positive for meth.
The court heard Mr Arumughasamy was on bail at the time of the alleged offence, following an incident in May last year where syringes, heroin and more than $12,000 cash were allegedly found in his car.
Mr Arumughasamy’s defence lawyer, Lucien Richter, said his client had a long-term drug addiction which saw him using five points of heroin a day.
He said Mr Arumughasamy had been clean for about five years but when his father died last year “it caused him to lose the plot”.
“He’s in onerous custody conditions because of COVID-19, including no family visits,” he said.
Mr Arumughasamy’s wife said she would put up a $10,000 surety so he could be released.
She also promised to dob her husband in if he breached any of his bail conditions, including driving or breaking curfew.
“He needs to be home with us, he’s better when he’s with us,” she said.
“The business was his father’s and clients want to speak to Viharn because they trust him because they worked with his father.
“The business has been doing well but I’m worried about what will happen to those clients if he is not released.”
But Magistrate Therese McCarthy said it was unfair to place that much responsibility on Mr Arumughasamy’s wife.
“You have a history of drug dependence and that drug dependence includes heroin, and that the charges before the court are in relation to significant amounts of drugs,” she said.
“Drugs are an ever-present part of your life and the factors that have been put in place (to allow Mr Arumughasamy out on bail) very much rest upon (his wife) taking a number of significant roles that would be designed to manage the risk.”
Ms McCarthy said without a rehabilitation program lined up for Mr Arumughasamy to attend upon his release, she was not convinced he should be released.
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