Max Paganoni of Max’s Red Hill indicted on perjury charges

Red Hill restaurateur Max Paganoni has been charged with perjury.

Accused of lying to a magistrate and police, Paganoni appeared at Frankston Magistrates’ Court last week facing charges of perjury and dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage.

The entrepreneur, who has carved out a niche in the Peninsula, is contesting the charges.

The Herald Sun reports that these charges are believed to stem from a drink-driving incident earlier this year when a driver, not Mr Paganoni, blew 0.149 on Mornington-Tyabb Rd in Mornington.

The allegation is that Mr Paganoni was in the passenger seat of the company car at the time.

Despite this, he told the court under oath that he wasn’t in the car when the drink-driving offence was committed.

Mr Paganoni is renowned for his self-named multiple award-winning restaurant and winery.

His Shoreham Rd business is described on his website as enjoying “iconic status as the first winery restaurant on the Peninsula”.

According to court documents, Paganoni, 49, has been charged with committing wilful and corrupt perjury.

One allegation is that he misled Frankston Court on April 23 this year by lying while under oath.

He has also been charged with evading car impound costs of nearly $1000 by lying to police prosecutors on the same day.

As a result of his alleged deception, police and the magistrate did not oppose a vehicle being returned from the impound yard, thereby saving him the $975 fee.

The case has been complicated by the role of magistrate Julian Ayres who was the same magistrate who heard the original impound case,

As a result of this, Mr Ayres said he would not be able to hear the matter any further due to a conflict of interest.

Mr Paganoni has had his bail extended until October 24.

Perjury in Victoria carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail.

Leon Gettler - 20th August 2018