Peter Lazaris – the former boss of infamous Surry Hills brothel A Touch of Class – has had his conviction overturned on criminal charges against him in relation to the alleged possession of police uniforms, almost three years after his arrest.
Lazaris, 55, was arrested in November 2022 when NSW Police raided his Kingsgrove home during a drug investigation. Officers claimed to have found genuine NSW Police and Australian Federal Police uniforms, alongside more than 45 grams of methylamphetamine.
He was charged with two counts of supplying methylamphetamine, drug possession, and possessing police uniforms without a permit – offences which can carry prison sentences of up to two years.
Ankle monitoring and strict bail conditions were imposed, secured by a $1 million property bond.
In a significant development, Ms Kiriakos of counsel, instructed by Mr Zanne for Lazaris, successfully argued before the District Court that statutory defences under s203(5)(c) and s203(6) of the Police Act 1990 (NSW) had been “sufficiently raised”. Judge Williams accepted these arguments, setting aside Lazaris’ conviction and the related forfeiture order. His Honour found that the statutory provisions allow possession of police uniforms where a “reasonable excuse” exists, or when they are used for public entertainment.
Following the court’s ruling, the following orders were made: (1) Conviction set aside; (2) Appeal is allowed; (3) Forfeiture order pursuant to s219 of LEPRA is set aside.
Lazaris had already entered guilty pleas to separate drug possession matters, but the most serious charge of which he was convicted of illegally holding police uniforms has been overturned.
Lazaris, who previously managed A Touch of Class in Surry Hills and owns a cattle stud in Kangaloon, had long denied any wrongdoing in relation to the uniforms. In earlier hearings, his lawyers argued that the items were not linked to any criminal enterprise.
