Updated ,first published
The identity of a high-profile Queensland man named as part of an extortion case will not be revealed after a magistrate ruled to uphold suppression orders.
A Cairns magistrate on Monday upheld orders proposed by the prosecution relating to the case, meaning details of the allegations cannot be published.
The high-profile man is not facing any charges, but his name has been mentioned in the case of another man accused of extorting his former partner in an act of domestic violence.
The man charged with extortion allegedly threatened to reveal what he claimed was an affair with the high-profile Queenslander.
An interim non-publication order was placed over the case by a Cairns magistrate.
Police prosecutor Maynard Marcum asked for the court to be closed, except for accredited media.
Several media outlets, including this masthead, were represented by Andrew O’Brien KC and Ben Cohen, who argued the court should be open and for the non-publication order to be lifted.
O’Brien said closing the court was the most drastic response a court could offer to this sort of order.
He submitted it was inappropriate, and the magistrate could have taken a number of less-intrusive measures.
“The problem with the argument, either the basis on which to close the court has been engaged, or it hasn’t, it’s not something that’s done in terms of a half-measure,” O’Brien said.
Defence barrister Brydie Bilic, representing the accused, echoed O’Brien’s submissions.
Magistrate Gelma Meoli ultimately ruled to close the court, leaving only accredited media. One member in the public gallery said it was disgusting as they left.
“A number of … the contents and names of persons have been identified in court and over the course of, from the time of when it was first mentioned up until last night there have been reporting in such a way as to go against the proper administration of justice,” the magistrate said.
When asked to provide reasons for her decision on closing the court, Meoli said there were previous cases that included blackmail and extortion in certain cases, and suppression and NPOs had been made.
“That is to protect the victims who make these complaints because if there is no protection to the proper administration of justice, and no orders of the like are made, then victims would not complain about this type of offending because they’re offered no protection,” she said.
The case remains before the Cairns Magistrates Court.
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Cloe Read is the crime and court reporter at Brisbane Times.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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