Peninsula ‘pioneer’ chef Maxwell Paganoni labelled ‘despicable’ and a liar after admitting perjury
Chef Maxwell Paganoni, who runs the famous Max’s Restaurant in Red Hill, has been blasted by a magistrate for blatantly lying to a court about being in a car with a drunk-driver.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
WELL-KNOWN Peninsula “pioneer” chef Maxwell Paganoni has been roasted by a magistrate for lying under oath, all because he didn’t want to pay to get his car out of the impound yard.
Paganoni, who runs Max’s Restaurant in Red Hill, pleaded guilty to one charge of perjury at Frankston Magistrates’ Court this morning.
RED HILL RESTAURATEUR MAX PAGANONI IN HOT WATER
CHEF REMANDED ON DRUGS AND WEAPONS CHARGES
The court heard the 50-year-old award-winning chef, who describes himself as the pioneer of winery fine dining, lied in the witness box earlier this year.
He was the passenger in his own Jeep, driven by his partner, that was stopped on Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington at 8pm on April 14.
The driver blew nearly three times over the limit, registering .0149, and because of the high reading, the car he was driving was impounded for 30 days.
But Paganoni wanted his car back and didn’t want to pay the $950 storage fee, so two days later he applied to the court for the vehicle to be released due to hardship.
On April 23 his case was heard, and under oath Paganoni told the magistrate the last time he had seen the driver was at noon that day, and he was unaware the car had been impounded until the day after.
This was despite the fact he was in the passenger seat of the car sat next to the drunk when it was pulled over, and that he was personally handed a copy of the impound notice.
The magistrate waived the $950 fee and gave the car back to Paganoni.
But alert police officers had noticed the discrepancy, and he was arrested at his work on May 12.
DRIVER BLAMES FAKE POINTS FOR LICENCE BAN
WILD HOLLY CAKES OWNER FINED OVER RATS, BUGS, SLUGS
In court his defence lawyer said Paganoni was under severe financial distress at the time and couldn’t afford the fee or to be without his car, which was used for ferrying guests around.
He was remorseful, embarrassed and his reputation had taken a hit, he said.
Magistrate John Doherty said the lies were “a slip, but a big slip”.
“What you did was stupidity, a moment of madness, and you are paying an enormous price,” Mr Doherty said.
“Coming to a court and lying to a magistrate is despicable.
“But I’ll temper my annoyance and irritation with mercy.”
Paganoni was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $3000 to the court fund.
MORE NEWS