Bar operator cops fine for filth and rodents
Prominent Melbourne bar operator Jerome Borazio has been fined $40,000 for allowing rodents and filth in a popular Melbourne laneway bar.
This was after Melbourne Magistrates Court heard that health inspectors discovered that Sister Bella, which is just Lonsdale Street, had rodent droppings throughout its kitchen, on benches, food preparation equipment and in utensil drawers.
They also found holes in walls and floors in the kitchen, filthy floors, greasy walls and equipment, a sink without soap and paper towel, and unsealed bags of food.
The inspectors also found the kitchen was littered with food particles littered. There were also two dead mice on the floor.
As a result, the bar was closed for three weeks in April 2014. It reopened on May 1, 2014, when the hygiene problems were addressed.
Jerome Borazio's company, Sister Bellas, owned Sister Bella at the time but the bar was sold last year for $75,000. The new owners took over in November last year.
Mr Borazio has other bars in Melbourne and also runs the city's popular Laneway Festival.
Initially, he wasn’t in court when the case was heard but fronted up, in shorts and thongs, when magistrate Peter Reardon ordered his defence lawyer to contact his client and get him into court.
Mr Reardon said the bar was a health hazard at the time, particularly with the rats attracted to the rubbish bins standing outside.
The fact is that if you want to open and run a grungy bar and restaurant, it doesn't mean the customers have to eat like alleycats," Mr Reardon said.
"Looking at these photographs it's incredible that anyone could unlock the door and turn a blind eye."
His defence counsel John Larkins told the court that his client had been overseas a lot of the time and had relied on a management team to run Sister Bella but "his faith was clearly misplaced".
"The buck stops with him," Mr Larkins said.
by Leon Gettler, 29th April 2016
