Underworld figures and criminals at birthday lunch attended by Matthew Guy

The so-called “heavies” who lunched with Matthew Guy have been unmasked as the man who hosted says he’s sorry for the effect of the scandal.

Elijah Salesui, Malaki Salesui and Mick Mantzaris were among the guests at Michael Piastrino’s birthday lunch attended by Matthew Guy. Picture: Supplied

A former Liberal Party candidate has apologised to Matthew Guy for engulfing the ex-opposition leader in scandal after inviting him to a lunch attended by criminals and underworld figures.

The Herald Sun on Wednesday revealed a picture taken at Ricardo’s Italian restaurant in Albert Park showing Mr Guy attending a 40th birthday party for former Mulgrave candidate Michael Piastrino.

Witnesses told of their shock that Mr Guy was dining with “heavies” who they claimed talked about bikies, extortion and violence during the course of the lunch last Friday.

Mr Piastrino told media on Wednesday morning that he and Mr Guy were considering suing over the article.

But after the Herald Sun uncovered the identities of the so-called “heavies” and further images of Mr Piastrino posing up with them, he backflipped on his threat to sue and apologised for engulfing Mr Guy in the controversy.

One of the men who attended the lunch is Malaki Salesui, who in 2021 was convicted over his part in an organised crime car theft ring, after a stolen Mercedes-Benz and Audi worth a combined $200,000, were seized.

Hairdresser and former Liberal Party candidate Michael Piastrino with Elijah Salesui and Malaki Salesui. Picture: Supplied

Malaki Salesui was also caught with a fully-automatic SKS assault rifle capable of firing 100 rounds a minute, which the judge in the case observed was of “great concern’.

His brother Elijah Salesui, who sat opposite him at the lunch, has also faced court on criminal charges.

A third “heavy” at the table can be confirmed as well-known underworld figure Mick Mantzaris, who was among the attendees at hit man Andrew “Benji” Veniamin’s funeral and once boasted on YouTube of taking anabolic steroids.

Well-known underworld figure Mick Mantzaris

Asked about the Salesui brothers’ attendance at the lunch, Mr Piastrino on Wednesday night said he had met the family through church and they were working to turn their lives around.

“They popped in after finishing at the gym and I am absolutely gutted at awful effect this has had on Matthew Guy, who is a lovely man,” he said.

“I am absolutely devastated that this has hurt him. These men are all involved in boxing and working hard to chart a new path. I was raised going to church and I’ve always believed not to judge anyone.”

Former Opposition leader Mr Guy on Wednesday afternoon reiterated that he didn't know who the “heavies” were, while confirming he would not be taking any action against the Herald Sun over its report either.

Matthew Guy says he didn’t know who the ‘heavies’ were. Picture: David Caird

“They were there for about 30 minutes while I was there,” Mr Guy said.

In regards to the witness accounts that the group had talked about violence and extortion during the lunch, Mr Guy was very clear that he had not heard any such conversations.

“I don’t think that was said, if it was said I certainly didn’t hear it,” he said.

Given the new revelations, some Liberal insiders on Wednesday also expressed shock at the party’s decision to preselect hairdresser Mr Piastrino as its challenger to Premier Daniel Andrews in last November’s election.

Mr Piastrino was forced to publicly apologise after accusing Mr Andrews of murder early in the campaign.

It comes amid increasing concerns about how much access convicted criminals get to politicians.

Senior Labor Minister Danny Pearson said the Liberal Party had fresh questions to answer about Mr Guy’s judgment.

“It’s a new year and there are now new questions,” he said.

“There are a lot of questions that Mr Guy needs to answer in relation to this particular lunch and this particular event.”

But opposition leader John Pesutto backed Mr Guy’s judgment in attending the birthday lunch.

He insisted it was not a bad look for the party, saying he simply attended the event to support a former Liberal candidate and didn’t know who else would be on the guest list.

“Are people really concerned about Matthew Guy going to a birthday party sitting across from the six year old son of the host, about scuttlebutt over bikie influences in the CFMEU,” Mr Pesutto said.