Bellarine Peninsula home of lawyer raided by anti-bikie cops destroyed in blaze
A Bellarine Peninsula property owned by a lawyer entangled in sweeping raids on the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang was torched overnight in a suspicious fire.
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A property linked to a lawyer raided last year by anti-bikie detectives has been torched.
The home, at Swan Bay on the Bellarine Peninsula, was destroyed by a blaze which broke out at 10.40pm yesterday.
The home is owned by Clare Voitin, the wife of solicitor John Voitin.
Mr Voitin’s former business was raided in March last year by detectives from the Echo taskforce.
That warrant was executed as part of a broader investigation into money-laundering proceeds of crime activity allegedly being committed by the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang.
Mr Voitin is due to face a committal hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 5 for matters relating to the Echo Taskforce.
In 2015, Mr Voitin was charged with 171 counts of professional misconduct for mixing trust and non-trust funds at his former firm, Voitin Lawyers.
He pleaded guilty to 57 of the charges and was ordered to pay $17,000 in costs to the Victorian Legal Services Commission.
Court documents show he was also banned from receiving trust monies for a period of six months.
Arson and explosives squad detectives were at the scene yesterday as a crime scene guard was maintained.
The fire is regarded as suspicious.
Ten Country Fire Authority trucks spent two hours dousing the flames but they could not save the home.
Police are treating the fire as suspicious.
The Herald Sun understands the Voitins were not home at the time.
Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Swan Bay Farms is a joint farming and educational venue run by the Voitins.
Its website states the family, including their three sons, have been at the property since mid-2000.
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“John and Clare want to share the Swan Bay Farm story with others, to encourage them to gain more knowledge about farming, its challenges and rewards, and highlight why it is important to support local, thus creating a greater awareness of the origins of the foods we eat.”
The farm was due to be opened to the public last year and had ambitions to offer farm tours, harvest events, luxury glamping and fundraising events.
Clare Voitin listed their Deepdene home, in Melbourne’s east, with a $2.95m-$3.25m guide price in May this year